Iran pushes for return to June deal, using Hormuz as leverage

Iran is using its control over the Strait of Hormuz as its chief bargaining chip to pressure Washington into releasing frozen Iranian assets, lifting economic sanctions and ending a naval blockade. Tehran is pushing for a return to the memorandum of understanding reached in June as the framework for resolving those disputes. The threat to close the strategically vital strait remains a real card in negotiations with the United States.