Iran has presented the United States with a plan that Tehran says could restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, while ruling out concessions on key elements of its nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said at the United Nations on Sept. 25 that the next move was up to Washington. The seven-day period would begin only after the United States accepted Iran’s conditions.
Tehran is demanding an end to hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, the release of frozen Iranian funds and an end to sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
Araghchi said U.S. commitments had been set out in a memorandum agreed in June, but that the previous understanding collapsed quickly. Iran’s latest proposal would shorten the transition period to seven days.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hopes an agreement can be reached before the U.S. midterm elections on Nov. 3. Qatar is relaying messages between the parties and serving as a mediator.
A senior Iranian official said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington met all of Tehran’s conditions. Iran would then be prepared to discuss its nuclear program, the official said, but would not give up its right to enrich uranium or agree to export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The central obstacle is the order of concessions. The United States is seeking nuclear restrictions in the first phase of an agreement, while Iran is linking detailed nuclear talks to the lifting of the blockade and sanctions relief.
Earlier reporting said Iran had offered to reopen the strategically important waterway within a week if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade on Iranian ports.
Sources: Reuters; The Associated Press.