Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz in 2 days if US meets demands, warns of fresh strikes

Iran has offered to restore security in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations with the United States within two days, provided Washington meets a set of demands put forward by Tehran. The proposal comes amid continuing uncertainty over the Iran-US war and fears that the United States and Israel could launch fresh strikes against Iran after Tuesday's US midterm elections.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that messages were still being exchanged with Washington through mediators and that the next step depended on the US accepting Tehran's conditions.

According to news agency AFP, Baqaei 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."

He added that everything depended on the American response and that only after Washington accepted the demands could both sides discuss subsequent stages.

Iran's proposal reportedly includes ending the war on all fronts in the Middle East, unfreezing Iranian assets held abroad, lifting sanctions on its oil sector and ending the US naval blockade.

Iran seeks changes to Hormuz transit arrangements

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in an interview with Al Jazeera, said Washington would also have to accept a new arrangement agreed upon by Iran and Oman for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

He said the US must lift sanctions imposed in recent months and reduce the number of American troops deployed in the region.

Tehran has also indicated that its original seven-stage proposal for resolving the conflict has been condensed into a plan that could be implemented within two days. The earlier proposal reportedly envisaged a seven-day timeframe.

Baqaei said the shortened timeline reflected Iran's willingness to pursue diplomacy, but stressed that the US must first end its naval blockade and address Tehran's demands.

The diplomatic exchanges have continued through mediators, including Qatar. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi visited Doha as part of efforts to facilitate communication between Tehran and Washington. Iranian negotiators left Doha on Sunday after discussions with Qatari officials, although reports said a draft proposal was being circulated and another meeting remained possible.

Netanyahu reportedly presses Trump for fresh strikes

Iran's proposal comes against the backdrop of growing concerns that the US and Israel could resume military operations against Tehran after the US midterm elections on Tuesday.

According to an Axios report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged US President Donald Trump to strike Iran immediately after the elections. Trump, however, reportedly wants to allow negotiations with Tehran more time to progress before deciding on further military action.

The two leaders spoke over the phone on Saturday. Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had a "very good" conversation with Netanyahu and confirmed that Iran was among the subjects discussed, but did not disclose further details.

Axios quoted an Israeli source describing the conversation as "tough", while an American source characterised it as "direct". The report said Netanyahu was concerned that ongoing negotiations could ease pressure on Iran, while Trump preferred to see whether diplomacy could produce an agreement.

The White House and Netanyahu's office did not publicly comment on the reported differences.

Strait of Hormuz remains critical to global oil supplies

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints. Nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies normally pass through the narrow waterway, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets and shipping.

The waterway has faced repeated disruptions since the US-Iran war began in February. Iran, which claims control over the strait, has repeatedly targeted vessels attempting to cross without its authorisation.

The continuing restrictions and threats to commercial shipping have raised concerns over energy supplies and the possibility of further escalation in the region.

While Tehran's latest proposal offers a possible route towards restoring shipping and restarting negotiations, its implementation remains dependent on Washington accepting Iran's conditions. With the US midterm elections approaching and Netanyahu reportedly pushing for renewed military action, the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough remains uncertain.