Iran urges US to accept proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remains on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, urging the United States to accept Tehran's proposal amid stalled negotiations.

Araqchi told Iranian media outlets that Tehran was reviewing Washington's response to its proposal while questioning whether the US was genuinely willing to reach an agreement.

“Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table and if there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn't, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious,” Araqchi said.

He was speaking in Baghdad during a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Iran submitted its proposal in mid-September after an interim ceasefire collapsed. Tehran later acknowledged receiving a US response, but Iran's security chief said last week that negotiations had stalled because Washington had not addressed all seven of Iran's conditions for reopening the strategic waterway.

Iran's demands include lifting the US blockade on Iranian ports, removing sanctions on its oil exports and ending hostilities across all regional fronts.

Araqchi said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within six days if Washington accepted Tehran's conditions, with negotiations resuming the following day.

A major obstacle remains Washington's insistence that Iran's nuclear programme be addressed from the outset of negotiations.

US Vice President JD Vance said earlier this month that Iran must make a “meaningful” reduction in its uranium enrichment capacity to meet US demands and end the eight-month war between the two countries.

Tehran, however, argues that negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring security in the waterway.

Before the war, the strait carried about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade, making it a critical route for international energy supplies.