Iran urges US to accept proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

Iran has extended an invitation to the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who spoke to Iranian media outlets on Sunday. This proposal was initially presented in mid-September following the collapse of an interim ceasefire. Iran has stated that it has received a response from the US, but security chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari revealed last week that negotiations have stalled due to Washington's failure to meet all seven conditions set forth by Iran for reopening the strait.

Araqchi, speaking while in Baghdad for an Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting, expressed Iran's willingness to resume negotiations with the US if there is any sincerity on their part. He emphasized that the path to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is clear, stating that talks could resume the next day if the US accepts Tehran's conditions.

The foreign minister outlined Iran's demands, which include the lifting of the US blockade on its ports, the removal of sanctions on its oil exports, and an end to hostilities across all regional fronts.

The central point of contention between the two nations has been Washington's insistence on addressing Iran's nuclear program early in the negotiations. US Vice President Kamala Harris recently stated that Iran must significantly reduce its uranium enrichment levels to satisfy US demands and end their ongoing eight-month conflict.

Tehran, in response, argues that the negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which historically facilitated about a fifth of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) before the war erupted, and restoring security in the waterway.