Iran has presented a proposal to the United States that would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen within seven days. The plan requires Washington to lift its naval blockade, waive sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and observe a ceasefire involving Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared the details of the proposal during a private gathering at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The idea is similar to an earlier agreement from June but with a much faster timeline, according to The Business Standard. That previous deal had set up a 60-day interim phase, which collapsed after Iran resumed attacks on ships in the strait. The current plan was communicated to Washington through Qatar, according to reports.
Under the new proposal, the United States would take the required steps during the first four or five days. Iran would reopen normal maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz on the sixth day. Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States would begin on the seventh day.
Iran has not agreed in advance to concessions on its nuclear program. Instead, the proposal calls for renewed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities and other subjects agreed upon by both sides.
Iran has been involved in a wider regional conflict that has included attacks on U.S. allies and oil infrastructure. Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have launched drones and missiles at Saudi targets, including an attempted ballistic missile strike on Riyadh. Iran denies controlling the Houthis.
Iranian-aligned groups in Iraq have also been blamed for disrupting oil pipelines that affect Saudi exports. A drone attack attributed to factions operating from Iraq forced Saudi Arabia to shut its East-West oil pipeline earlier in September.
The proposal remains conditional and Washington has not announced that it has accepted the terms. Iranian officials say the conditions presented in New York had already been agreed inside Iran. Hardline officials have said those conditions should not be removed or changed.
Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, who attended Araghchi’s private gathering, said the timing could give President Donald Trump a political incentive to reach an agreement before the November midterm elections. However, concerns remain that Iran might use the pause to gain economic relief and sell more oil. The situation has drawn attention from regional mediators like Qatar, which has helped facilitate indirect talks between the two countries.
President Pezeshkian met with Qatar’s prime minister on Friday as diplomatic activity continues at the UN. It is unclear how long Araghchi and Pezeshkian will stay in New York after Pezeshkian spoke to world leaders on Wednesday. Trump has said he is in no rush to reach an agreement while high oil prices continue to add to concerns about inflation and living costs.
Iranian officials have emphasized that compliance with the plan would lead to broader negotiations on topics agreed upon by both sides, the South China Morning Post reported. If the US agrees, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and hostilities would end across all fronts, including Lebanon.
Iran also wants commercial shipping to use a new route through the strait arranged with Oman. Iranian officials have indicated that Tehran wants greater control over shipping through the waterway and has raised concerns about vessels carrying weapons that could be used against Iran.
Iran has made it clear that the United States must act quickly if it wants a resolution to the ongoing conflict. The move comes amid increasing pressure from both sides to find a way out of the escalating regional tensions.
IMAGE: Abbas Araghchi. Photo: Kai Mörk / Wikimedia, taken 2006-02-04, CC BY 3.0