Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Within Seven Days if US Meets Conditions

NEW YORK: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran has presented a proposal through mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States fulfils certain conditions.

Speaking to a group of journalists and members of US think tanks in New York, Araghchi said the proposal had been conveyed to Washington through intermediaries as part of efforts to revive diplomacy and end the ongoing conflict.

Araghchi said the conditions presented by Iran were not new and were based on provisions contained in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said Tehran believes implementation of the agreement before the US midterm elections in November would be preferable, while US President Donald Trump has indicated that an agreement with Iran could be reached after the elections.

The Iranian foreign minister said the timing of any agreement ultimately depended on Washington.

Araghchi reiterated that Iran’s proposed conditions were not different from those included in the earlier understanding between the two sides.

According to reports, the Iranian proposal envisages the reopening of the strategic waterway within seven days once the required steps are taken by Washington, followed by the resumption of negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international shipping route and a major channel for global energy supplies, making any agreement over its reopening significant for regional trade and international oil markets.

The proposal comes amid intensified diplomatic contacts on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Iran has continued to engage with mediating countries while seeking a framework for renewed negotiations with the United States.

The latest proposal places the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of efforts to reduce tensions and restore commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.