Iran Awaits US Response on Plan to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran expects to receive a formal response from the United States on Tuesday regarding its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, said Qatari mediators had discussed ideas with Iranian officials and were expected to present them to the American side before conveying Washington’s response to Tehran. He said the immediate focus of the discussions was the reopening of the strategic waterway, but stressed that Iran had attached certain conditions to any move to restore passage through the strait. The latest discussions come as Washington and Tehran continue indirect contacts through regional mediators over possible steps to de-escalate the conflict. 

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major point of contention in the conflict, with the waterway carrying a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the fighting disrupted traffic. Iran’s current proposal reportedly requires a seven-day ceasefire across the Middle East, including Lebanon, along with the unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector and an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has proposed reopening the strait after those conditions are met and resuming broader negotiations, including discussions on its nuclear programme. However, the United States has indicated that any agreement would also need to address Iran’s nuclear activities, leaving significant differences between the two sides. Despite those disagreements, mediators from Qatar and other countries continue efforts to keep negotiations alive. 

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