Iran Maintains Offer to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Stalled Negotiations
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirms Iran's seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remains active, pending U.S. concessions on sanctions.
POLICY WIRE — Dubai, UAE — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reaffirmed on Sunday that Tehran’s proposal to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz within a seven-day window remains active. The offer, which was initially presented in mid-September following the collapse of an interim ceasefire, continues to serve as a focal point for ongoing diplomatic tensions.
The proposed agreement is contingent upon several key demands from Tehran. These include the removal of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, the lifting of sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, and a comprehensive cessation of hostilities across all regional fronts, including Lebanon.
The diplomatic situation remains complex, as Iranian security officials have characterized the recent American response to these seven conditions as insufficient. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, noted on October 11, 2026, that the U.S. reply failed to meet Tehran’s requirements, further entrenching the standoff over the waterway that has been effectively closed to U.S. interests since the conflict began in late February 2026.
While the U.S. government and CENTCOM maintain that the vital oil transit route remains open to all international vessels except those from Iran, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated that the country is still reviewing the latest communication from Washington. The proposal, which was delivered via mediators, has drawn comparisons to previous diplomatic memorandums as both nations navigate the impasse.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
