Iran on Sunday said it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within six days if the United States accepted its conditions, even as Tehran warned Washington against launching fresh military strikes amid continuing tensions over the strategically important shipping route.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the proposal submitted to Washington in September remained valid, although negotiations had stalled because the US had not adequately addressed Tehran's seven conditions for reopening the waterway.
Speaking during a visit to Baghdad for a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Araqchi said Iran was reviewing Washington's response and remained prepared to move forward if its demands were accepted.
He indicated that the strait could reopen on the sixth day following an agreement, with negotiations between the two countries resuming the following day.
The announcement came amid renewed concerns over the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
๐ง๐ฒ๐ต๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Iran submitted its proposal in mid-September following the collapse of an interim ceasefire with the United States. Washington subsequently conveyed its response through diplomatic intermediaries, but Tehran maintains that several of its demands remain unresolved.
Among the conditions are the removal of the US blockade on Iranian ports, the lifting of American sanctions on Iranian oil exports and an end to hostilities across regional fronts.
Iranian officials have not publicly disclosed the complete list of seven demands, although they have repeatedly insisted that all outstanding issues must be addressed before the waterway can be reopened under an agreement.
Araqchi said Tehran's position remained unchanged and urged Washington to demonstrate a willingness to reach a diplomatic settlement.
The Foreign Minister's remarks followed statements by Iranian security officials that the US response had failed to adequately address the conditions necessary for restoring maritime traffic and resuming substantive negotiations.
๐ก๐๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ธ๐
A major obstacle remains disagreement over the sequence of negotiations, particularly Washington's insistence that Iran's nuclear programme be addressed at the outset.
The US administration has demanded substantial restrictions on Tehran's uranium enrichment activities as part of any broader agreement to end the conflict.
US Vice President JD Vance said earlier this month that Iran would have to demonstrate a meaningful reduction in its enrichment capacity to satisfy American demands.
Iran, however, wants the initial discussions to concentrate on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, restoring maritime security and ending military hostilities before moving to other disputed issues.
Diplomatic contacts have continued through intermediaries, including Qatar and Pakistan, but neither side has announced a breakthrough.
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has disrupted maritime commerce and intensified concerns over regional stability.
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป'๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ ๐จ๐ฆ
In a separate development, Iran's newly appointed Defence Minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi warned on Sunday that the United States and its regional allies would face severe consequences if Washington resumed military operations against Tehran.
Speaking to reporters after securing parliamentary approval for his appointment, Akhlaghi expressed confidence that Washington would avoid another military confrontation.
"If they (the US) do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage," he warned.
Iran's parliament approved his appointment with 237 votes in favour out of 277 cast. He succeeded Aziz Nasirzadeh, who was killed during US-Israeli strikes on February 28 that also claimed the lives of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior military commanders.
The warning came as tensions remained elevated despite diplomatic efforts to restore negotiations and secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
๐๐น๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ
The Strait of Hormuz, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is among the world's most important maritime routes for energy transportation.
Before the conflict, approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the waterway, making any prolonged disruption a significant concern for energy-importing economies.
Restrictions on shipping and continuing attacks on commercial vessels have heightened uncertainty over the movement of crude oil, petroleum products and other cargo through the region.
The US and Iran have offered differing assessments of the waterway's accessibility, while maritime security concerns continue to affect commercial shipping.
For Tehran, the reopening proposal represents a potential starting point for renewed negotiations. Washington, however, continues to link a broader settlement to restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.
With both sides maintaining their positions, the proposed six-day reopening remains conditional on an agreement that has yet to materialise.