Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Saturday that the country's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, supports a new plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with US media, Pezeshkian stated that the plan was coordinated with Khamenei and aims to ease tensions with the United States. The strait is a crucial passage for the world's oil supply and has been at the center of the conflict between the US and Iran.
According to Pezeshkian, the plan involves a six-member team that has been meeting to discuss the proposal, which includes representatives from various organizations and bodies, including the military, parliament, and government. The team has the authority to make decisions, and Pezeshkian emphasized that if the US accepts the plan and fulfills its obligations, Iran will do the same. The proposal calls for a cessation of all hostilities in the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the plan's conditions are the same as those outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed with the US in June. The conditions include the release of frozen Iranian assets estimated to be worth at least $12 billion, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil, and an end to the US naval blockade of Iran. The US has yet to publicly respond to Iran's proposal.
Reports indicate that US President Donald Trump has rejected the plan. However, Pezeshkian expressed optimism that the US will accept the proposal, saying that if the US does so, "there will be no issue in this regard." The conflict between the US and Iran has been deadlocked for nearly seven months, and the situation remains tense.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for the world's oil supply, and any disruption to the passage could have significant economic consequences. The US and Iran have been engaged in a long-standing dispute over the strait, with the US imposing sanctions on Iranian oil and Iran responding by increasing its military presence in the region.
Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been met with skepticism by some analysts, who question whether the US will be willing to compromise. However, Pezeshkian's announcement has raised hopes that a breakthrough may be possible. The Iranian president emphasized that his country is committed to fulfilling its obligations if the US agrees to the proposal.
The international community is closely watching the developments, with some countries expressing support for Iran's proposal. Saudi Arabia, however, has warned that the world is failing to protect Gulf shipping. The situation remains complex, and it is unclear whether Iran's proposal will be accepted by the US.
Key points
- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian says supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei backs a new plan to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
- The plan involves a six-member team that has been meeting to discuss the proposal, which includes representatives from various organizations and bodies.
- The proposal calls for a cessation of all hostilities in the Middle East and the release of frozen Iranian assets estimated to be worth at least $12 billion.
