October 5, Tehran (RASS/AFP) – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Tuesday that Tehran expects to receive a formal response from the United States regarding its proposal to reopen the Hormuz Strait. According to him, Qatari mediators are currently engaged in discussions between Iran and the U.S. about the proposal. After further talks with the American side, a final response will be sent to Iran. Araghchi, who is in New York, confirmed that discussions on the matter presented by the Qatari mediators took place on Monday night.
“They put forward some ideas, and we debated them. They are preparing to speak again with the U.S. side, after which the final U.S. reply will be sent to us,” he told state media. He added that the Qatari mediators expect the process to conclude by Tuesday. Highlighting that the current focus remains on the Hormuz Strait, Araghchi noted certain conditions set by Iran for reopening the strait would need to be met. The Hormuz Strait remains a focal point in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
The conflict began after attacks launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran at the end of February. Prior to the outbreak of hostilities, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through this waterway. Since the conflict started, Iran has imposed a blockade on Hormuz, prompting the U.S. to retaliate with a blockade of Iranian ports. Amid this tense situation, talks took place last week in New York between Araghchi and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran has demanded a seven-day ceasefire across the Middle East, including Lebanon, before any lifting of the U.S. blockade.
In Lebanon, Iran-backed Hezbollah is actively engaged in fighting Israeli forces. Furthermore, Iran insists on the release of its frozen assets overseas, the lifting of sanctions in the oil sector, and the end of the U.S. Navy’s blockade as preconditions in the negotiations.
