Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations on its nuclear programme within seven days, provided the United States lifts its naval blockade, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and observes a ceasefire encompassing Lebanon.
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, detailed the proposal during a private gathering on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, reports AP.
An attendee at the meeting, Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute think tank, said Araghchi suggested a prompt agreement would assist US President Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm elections.
Neither Iran’s UN mission nor other Iranian officials offered an immediate comment on the initiative. The offer strongly resembles the Memorandum of Understanding agreed in June, though it operates on an accelerated timetable.
That earlier agreement, which called for a 60-day interim period, rapidly collapsed when Iran restarted attacks on shipping in the strait.
Trump has said he is in no rush to conclude a deal, even as elevated oil prices fuel inflation and exacerbate cost-of-living concerns.
Meanwhile, on the Iranian side, questions persist over whether hard-liners dominating the security forces will accept compromises championed by relative moderates, such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Parsi observed, “If Trump calculates this arrangement is worthwhile and can bring political benefit before the midterms and reduce gas prices, perhaps we’ll see flexibility not seen in previous weeks.”
However, he said “deep suspicion” surrounding the offer, particularly concerns that Tehran might merely be buying time to export more oil and ease its economic hardship.
In a further sign of diplomatic movement, Pezeshkian hosted the prime minister of Qatar early on Friday. Qatar has acted as a primary mediator, facilitating hours of indirect Iranian-US talks at the UN this week.
It remains unclear how long Pezeshkian and Araghchi will remain in the US following Pezeshkian’s address to the annual UN gathering of world leaders on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked, “if there’s an opportunity to exchange ideas and messages, we will.”
