Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz within two days if US meets demands
Iran is prepared to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the United States accepts its conditions, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said, as negotiations with Qatari mediators continue.
Araghchi said talks with Doha had helped shorten the proposed timeline from five days to two.
“The Qatari side proposed shortening the implementation period of the Iranian proposal to five days. We have reached a proposal at this stage that reduces the implementation period to two days,” he was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
Tehran's demands include the withdrawal of US sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum collapsed in July, a reduction in American military presence in the region, the restoration of oil waivers and the release of frozen Iranian assets, including funds held in Qatar.
Iran is also seeking formal recognition of a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, developed in discussions with Oman, while demanding the closure of other routes. It has also called for an end to the war on all fronts, particularly Israel's attacks on Lebanon.
Araghchi said reopening the waterway on Iran's terms “paves the way for the resumption of negotiations with Washington regarding outstanding issues.”
Earlier, Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei said the strait would remain closed until Tehran's seven conditions were met. He also warned that Iran would “deliver devastating blows to the aggressor using new weaponry” if attacked.
The diplomatic exchanges follow a letter sent by US Vice President JD Vance to Rezaei through Qatari mediators. Rezaei described Washington's change in tone as a positive sign. The letter reportedly proposed direct negotiations led by Vance, with Iran's nuclear programme on the agenda.
US President Donald Trump has said Iran wants to negotiate and that talks are progressing. However, he has also threatened fresh strikes on Iran's remaining nuclear sites, claiming an operation could be carried out “in 10 minutes”.