Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Iran’s proposal to the US to open the Strait of Hormuz within seven days was still on the table, comments that come as Iran has ramped up its attacks on shipping in the waterway.
“Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US,” Araghchi said while in Baghdad for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
“They shared comments which we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table, and if there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn’t, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious,” Araghchi added.
Mohsen Rezaei, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said last week that the latest US response to Iran’s proposal was “inadequate,” though he said that Washington had accepted at least some of Tehran’s conditions.
Iran proposed a deal that would require the US to end its blockade of Iranian ports, waive some sanctions, and release some of Iran’s frozen funds in exchange for Iran fully opening the Strait of Hormuz on the sixth day. On the seventh day, the two sides would begin negotiations on a nuclear deal.
Iran’s proposal also calls for a ceasefire on all fronts, though it’s unclear if Tehran is really asking for one beyond the US-Iran war and Israel’s war in southern Lebanon. The conditions are essentially what the US agreed to under the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed back in June but quickly fell apart.
Iran dramatically escalated attacks on commercial shipping in or near the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks, with daily attacks being reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations, though the organization has acknowledged that most vessels that come under attack report it, making it difficult to establish the true number of incidents.
While negotiations between the US and Iran still appear to be underway in some form, all signs point to further escalation, likely after the October 27 Israeli Knesset elections and November 3 US midterm elections, though according to reporting from Axios, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have discussed the possibility of launching a major attack on Iran before both elections.
Trump gave Netanyahu a strong endorsement on Sunday, suggesting he would like an Israel run by Netanyahu to help “finish the job” against Iran, something Araghchi responded to in a post on X.
“Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job,’ Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” he wrote. “Netanyahu is driving America into another war to stay out of jail, whatever the consequences for Israel—let alone POTUS.”
