Newsletters
Iran said Monday it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the U.S. accepts its conditions, shortening an earlier proposal that envisioned reopening the vital shipping route within a week.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran viewed the shortened timeline as evidence of what he called Iran’s good-faith approach.
“The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran’s good-faith approach,” Baghaei said.
“We have stated that, if Iran’s demands are met, it would be possible to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and resume the negotiating process within a short period.”
Baqaei said messages were continuing to be exchanged between Iran and the U.S. through mediators, adding that “everything depends” on Washington accepting Tehran’s demands.
“Only then can we discuss the subsequent stages,” he said.
Since the Middle East war began in late February, Iran has claimed control over the Strait of Hormuz and has regularly targeted vessels attempting to cross without its authorization. The U.S., in response, has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran initially presented a seven-day proposal through Qatar in September, under which Tehran would reopen the strait on the sixth day after Washington met its demands.
Those demands include ending the Middle East war on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian assets abroad, lifting sanctions on Iran’s oil sector and ending the U.S. naval blockade.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an Al Jazeera interview released Sunday that Washington must also accept a new transit route through the strait agreed between Iran and Oman.
Araghchi said the U.S. should remove sanctions imposed in recent months and reduce the number of American troops in the region.
Washington has introduced additional sanctions since August as part of what it described as the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran.
The U.S. and Israel have also intensified threats in recent days to resume attacks on Iran amid elections in both countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that he still had to “take care” of one or two targets, including Pickaxe mountain in central Iran, which is suspected of being a nuclear site. Tehran denies the site has such a purpose.
“Any act of aggression against Iran, any military attack against Iran, by whatever means, will be met with a powerful, immediate and comprehensive response from us,” Baghaeisaid Monday.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
