Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Could Be Reopened in a Week

Iran has put forward a seven-day framework aimed at facilitating the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and resuming discussions regarding its nuclear program, with these measures contingent on the United States withdrawing its naval presence and reducing economic sanctions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the particulars of this substantive proposal during the UN General Assembly proceedings in New York, noting that the initiative had been communicated to the Trump administration through Qatari intermediaries.

According to Foreign Minister Araghchi, the proposed sequence would commence upon official United States acceptance of the framework.

During the initial five days, both parties would undertake preliminary logistical arrangements and confidence-building measures. On the sixth day, the Strait of Hormuz—which has been restricted and mined by Iran following the commencement of military operations in February—would be restored to full accessibility for routine international maritime commerce. 

On the seventh day, formal diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran would resume with the objective of achieving a definitive and comprehensive agreement concerning Iran's nuclear capabilities.

The proposal fundamentally seeks to reinstate the principal elements of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) established in June, which subsequently deteriorated following renewed military actions. Tehran has outlined several essential prerequisites that the United States must fulfill.

These include an immediate cessation of the U.S. military operations affecting vessels transiting Iranian maritime zones, financial accommodations permitting the resumption of Iranian petroleum commerce, and the restoration of approximately $12 billion in Iranian assets currently held in restricted accounts.

Additionally, Iran seeks a comprehensive cessation of military activities throughout the Middle Eastern region, with explicit reference to conflict zones in Lebanon and Yemen.

 

Current assessments suggest that President Donald Trump has declined the particular proposal, with American officials indicating that the United States maintains a measured approach regarding the acceleration of negotiations based on Tehran's specified conditions.

Notably, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has continued to exercise considerable military presence, indicating that its maritime forces have redirected 12 commercial vessels during the current week to ensure rigorous adherence to the established blockade.

United States officials have underscored that the blockade has not impeded international energy transportation; approximately 40 million barrels of crude oil were successfully conveyed through the strait with the benefit of United States military escort during a 48-hour period, maintaining levels consistent with those observed prior to the conflict.