Iran says discussing plan with mediators to end war, reopen Hormuz

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that his country is engaged in discussions with mediators to implement a seven-day plan aimed at ending the ongoing war in the Middle East and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking via a post on X, Araghchi emphasized Iran's readiness to defend its homeland while maintaining a commitment to diplomacy. He stressed that Iran is in constant contact with intermediaries to explore ideas that could expedite the implementation of their seven-day plan.

The recent war in February has raised concerns in the US and Israel about possible renewed attacks on Iran. In September, Iran presented a seven-day plan to the United States via Qatar, suggesting that Hormuz would be reopened within seven days if certain conditions were met, including a Middle East ceasefire. Iran has also demanded the unfreezing of its assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector, and the lifting of the US naval blockade.

According to Axios, a US news website, regional mediators led by Qatar are attempting to broker a diplomatic deal to restart US-Iranian talks and prevent the war from resuming after the US midterm elections on November 3. The sources cited by Axios suggest that Qatar is trying to persuade Iran to allow UN inspectors to visit its bombed nuclear sites in exchange for some sanctions relief from the United States.

A delegation from Qatar visited Tehran on Sunday to discuss the developments, including talks on negotiations, Hormuz, and energy supplies. Despite these diplomatic efforts, the crisis remains unresolved, particularly since the June deal aimed at achieving a permanent settlement has collapsed.