Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within six days if the United States accepts Iran’s conditions, and negotiations could resume on the seventh day. He said Tehran was reviewing Washington’s comments on its proposal but maintained that the plan remained on the table.
Araghchi made the remarks to Iranian media while in Baghdad for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). “Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US. Iran presented its proposal in mid-September after an interim ceasefire collapsed.
Because washington had not addressed all seven conditions for reopening the strait, tehran later acknowledged receiving a US response, but Iran’s security chief said last week that negotiations had stalled.
Separately, Iran’s newly appointed Defence Minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi warned that the US and its allies in the West Asia would suffer “enormous damage” if Washington resumed military action against Tehran, news agency Reuters reported. He said Tehran was reviewing comments received from Washington but that its seven-day proposal remained on the table. 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,” Araghchi said. Under the proposal, the strait could reopen on the sixth day if Washington accepts Iran’s conditions, with negotiations resuming the following day, Araghchi said. Earlier this month, US Vice President JD Vance said 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.
Iran’s parliament approved Akhlaghi’s appointment as defence minister, with 237 lawmakers voting in favour out of 277 votes cast, according to the Iranian government website cited by AFP. He replaced Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed in a US-Israeli attack on a leadership compound on February 28, alongside former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders.
Earlier reporting noted: Speaking to Iranian media outlets in Baghdad, where he was attending a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Araqchi said Tehran was reviewing Washington’s response to its proposal but accused the United States of lacking the honesty needed to reach an agreement. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Our proposal is still on table’: Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz in seven days if US accepts conditions Iran says Hormuz reopening proposal stands as Tehran and Washington remain at odds Earlier reporting noted: Iran’s offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days remains on the table, foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday, as Tehran and Washington remain at odds over the conditions for ending their eight-month war.
