Iran Offers US Seven-Day Plan To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz.
Iran has offered the United States a seven-day roadmap that could lead to the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Araghchi said Tehran had delivered the proposal to Washington through Qatar, with the plan providing for the waterway to return to normal maritime traffic within seven days if the necessary conditions are accepted.
Under the proposal, fighting would be halted across the region, including in Lebanon, while the United States would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and provide relief on sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports. The proposal also reportedly includes the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Restrictions on shipping through the waterway have affected oil and gas supplies and contributed to concerns about energy prices and wider economic disruption.
Araghchi said the timetable would begin once Washington accepts the proposal. He indicated that the seventh day would mark the reopening of the strait, while talks over Iran's nuclear programme would resume as part of the wider diplomatic process.
The proposal is based partly on a memorandum of understanding reached between Iran and the United States in June, which had sought to halt military operations and restore maritime traffic. That arrangement later broke down, with both sides accusing the other of violating its terms.
Iran's latest initiative comes as diplomatic efforts continue at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Tehran has used the UN gathering to communicate its conditions for restarting negotiations with Washington.
However, the proposal has not yet resulted in an agreement. Reuters reported on September 26 that Iran was awaiting a US response after a report said President Donald Trump had rejected the plan. The status of the proposal therefore remained contested as diplomatic contacts continued.
The disagreement centres on the sequence and scope of the proposed measures. Iran wants the conditions concerning the blockade, sanctions and regional fighting addressed before the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, while US officials have continued to link negotiations to broader issues including Iran's nuclear programme.
The Strait's future remains closely watched by governments, shipping companies and energy markets because of its importance to international trade. Any sustained reopening could have wider implications for shipping and energy supplies, while continued restrictions could prolong the economic effects of the conflict. For now, no final US-Iran agreement has been announced, and the outcome of Tehran's seven-day proposal remains dependent on further diplomatic discussions between the two sides.
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