Iran on Saturday awaited an official response from the United States to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting across the Middle East, after The Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump had rejected the proposal.
Iran presented the diplomatic initiative during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying the proposal had been conveyed to Washington through Qatari mediators. Tehran said the plan could restore passage through the strategic waterway and lead to a pause in regional hostilities within seven days.
The reported rejection has not been independently confirmed by Reuters, and Iran was still waiting for an official US response.
Earlier, US officials had described mediated discussions with Iran as positive and constructive, raising hopes that diplomacy could provide a way out of the conflict.
READ RELATED STORY
US and Iran hold mediated talks at UN amid efforts to end war
Nigeria seeks deeper security cooperation with United States, says lawmaker
TEHRAN SETS TERMS FOR A POSSIBLE AGREEMENT
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday that Tehran’s proposal would begin a seven-day process once Washington accepted it.
“If there is seriousness on the US side to come to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, everything is now prepared,” Araqchi told reporters at the United Nations.
Under the proposal, the Strait would be reopened after the initial stages of the agreement, while the parties would move towards broader discussions on issues they could mutually agree on.
Those discussions could include Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump has repeatedly said Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon. However, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would not make concessions over what it considers its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment or the removal of highly enriched uranium from the country.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also said Tehran is prepared to negotiate over its nuclear programme and other issues but would not accept pressure or coercion.
Araqchi said Tehran’s proposal would require Washington to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian funds and ease sanctions affecting Iranian oil exports. The proposed arrangement would also involve a halt to fighting across regional fronts, including Lebanon.
HORMUZ DISRUPTION RAISES GLOBAL ENERGY CONCERNS
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the central pressure points in the conflict because of its importance to global energy supplies.
The waterway links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for international oil and gas shipments. Its disruption has reduced energy flows and contributed to wider concerns over the global economy.
Iran has sought to use the prospect of reopening the strait as part of its diplomatic initiative, while the United States has continued to demand major changes from Tehran.
The latest proposal follows several unsuccessful diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which Reuters reported began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks.
Since then, fighting has spread across several parts of the Middle East, with Iran and its regional allies retaliating against US and Israeli interests and partners.
IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA DISCUSS SHIPPING SECURITY
The country has also been engaging Saudi Arabia over arrangements for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Araqchi briefed Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on an understanding between them and Oman concerning safe shipping routes through the waterway, according to their Foreign Ministry.
The development comes as Saudi Arabia faces increasing attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The Saudi-led coalition said early Saturday that it had intercepted two ballistic missiles and two drones launched towards the kingdom. The coalition said the missiles were headed towards Khamis Mushait, while the drones were directed towards Riyadh.
The latest attacks add to concerns that the conflict could widen further and threaten other important shipping routes in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s security concerns have also prompted closer coordination with regional partners. Defence officials from Turkey and Pakistan met Saudi counterparts in Riyadh on Friday to discuss regional security, intelligence cooperation and military coordination.
The developments underline the broader regional consequences of the conflict, with the disruption of major maritime routes putting additional pressure on energy supplies and international trade.
Iran says it is ready to implement its seven-day roadmap if Washington accepts the proposal. But with the reported US rejection still awaiting official confirmation, the diplomatic initiative remains uncertain.
