Iran sets six-day deadline to reopen Hormuz if US lifts sanctions
Tehran demands end to port blockade and oil export sanctions in exchange for reopening key shipping lane.
Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within six days if the United States agrees to its conditions, though negotiations remain deadlocked over key disagreements. The offer, presented in mid-September, aims to restore one of the world’s most vital energy shipping routes, which carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that Tehran’s proposal remains active, despite Washington’s partial response. Speaking in Baghdad during an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting, Araghchi outlined Iran’s demands: the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports, the removal of sanctions on oil exports, and an end to regional hostilities. He confirmed that Iran had received a US reply but criticized it for failing to address all seven of Tehran’s conditions.
Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strait: strait of hormuz
Araghchi emphasized that the path to reopening the strait was clear if the US acted in good faith, though he expressed skepticism about Washington’s willingness to do so. He did not confirm whether an agreement had been reached or specify a timeline for reopening the waterway.
Natural Gas
A major obstacle in negotiations is the timing of discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme. The US insists that Tehran must first reduce its uranium enrichment capacity before any deal to end the eight-month war can be finalized. Vice President JD Vance stated earlier this month that this demand was non-negotiable for Washington.
Nuclear programme and military tensions complicate talks
Iran, however, has rejected this approach, insisting that initial talks focus solely on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran’s newly appointed Defence Minister, Mehrdad Akhlaghi, issued a warning on Sunday, stating that any US military action would result in “enormous damage” to Washington and its regional allies. Akhlaghi, whose appointment was approved by Iran’s parliament with 237 votes out of 277, claimed that the US would likely avoid further attacks, but if it did, the consequences would be severe.
The proposal offers a potential timeline for restoring critical energy supplies, but its implementation hinges on whether the two sides can bridge their differences.
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