Iran receives US feedback on seven-day trust-building plan, main issue is sequencing

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi received feedback from the United States via Qatari mediators in Doha on a seven-day plan designed to foster trust between Washington and Tehran, according to an official briefing Reuters. The main issue of contention, stated the official, is the sequencing of the plan's steps.

Araghchi is scheduled to share the US response with Iranian officials on Wednesday, the official added. Last week, Iran proposed a seven-day plan under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and normal maritime passage restored if certain conditions were met. However, US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal, leading to further mediation by Qatari mediators.

The Qatari intermediaries relayed the feedback they obtained from Washington on Monday to Araghchi and his team while they were en route back from the United States, the official explained. The seven-day trust-building period outlined in the document aims to restore the two sides to an enhanced version of the memorandum of understanding signed in June, according to the official. This memorandum included concrete steps on Iran's nuclear program, though the official provided no further details.

The disagreement centers on the sequencing of the steps in the plan rather than its components, the official emphasized. Qatar has been actively mediating between Washington and Tehran to resolve the conflict and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. The June memorandum of understanding resulted in a brief ceasefire and laid out provisions regarding the strait and Iran's nuclear program.