Iran has proposed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States agrees to several conditions, including lifting the naval blockade on Iranian ports and easing sanctions on oil exports. The offer also includes resuming negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, contingent upon a maintained ceasefire encompassing Lebanon.
The proposal, outlined by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, starts the seven-day countdown once Washington accepts the terms. Initial steps would take four to five days, with the strait reopening on the sixth day and nuclear talks resuming on the seventh. This strategic waterway is crucial for global energy supplies, and its closure has raised concerns in international oil and gas markets.
Iran’s initiative was communicated to the United States through Qatar, which has been mediating between Tehran and Washington. This comes after attempts at diplomacy have previously failed to yield a lasting agreement. Concurrently, Iran is engaging with Gulf countries diplomatically, as evidenced by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s meeting with Qatar’s prime minister and Araghchi’s discussions with Saudi officials at the U.N. General Assembly.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, internal disagreements persist within Iran regarding negotiations with the U.S. While some Iranian officials advocate for diplomacy, hard-line factions criticize these efforts and call for continued resistance. The proposal also raises uncertainties about whether it addresses conflicts involving Yemen’s Houthi forces and the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another key international shipping route.