Mohsen Rezaei, Aug. 28 -- TEHRAN - The tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz have been sailing through a provisional corridor that Iran controls and Iran can close. On Wednesday, Tehran's most senior security official made explicit what it costs to keep it open.

peace across the Middle East, with specific emphasis on Gaza and Lebanon.

The Trump administration's position, conveyed through officials speaking to Western media, was that Washington is "holding off on returning to talks" until conditions change. The conditions were not named.

The corridor through which some 17 to 21 million barrels of oil move daily was established after months of disruption following the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began in late Februar...