Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that his country has submitted a proposal to the United States to end their ongoing conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Araghchi, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly, revealed that the proposal involves a cessation of all hostilities in the Middle East for seven days, including in Lebanon. This development comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US.
According to Araghchi, the proposal also calls for 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. In return, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the seventh day of the truce. Araghchi expressed optimism that China supports the proposal, which was first reported by Japanese news agency Kyodo on Tuesday.
The Iranian foreign minister met with US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Tuesday to discuss the proposal. Araghchi is waiting for a US response to the plan, which aims to de-escalate tensions in the region. This latest development comes after an earlier US-Iran memorandum of understanding in June that aimed to end the war, reopen the strait, and launch talks on Iran's nuclear programme.
However, the earlier agreement collapsed when Iran fired on commercial ships using an alternative route through the Strait of Hormuz. The US sought to establish an alternative shipping corridor, which Tehran said undermined its control over the waterway and violated the agreement. Since then, ships that refuse to comply with Iranian regulations have been targeted, while the US has sporadically bombed Iranian coastal areas in retaliation.
Hossein Mohebi, a spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards, told AFP that ending hostilities in Yemen is also among Tehran's demands. This comes as the conflict in Yemen continues to escalate, with the humanitarian situation on the ground deteriorating. The Iranian proposal aims to address not only the conflict with the US but also the broader regional tensions.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway, with a significant portion of the world's oil supply passing through it. The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the security of the strait and the potential impact on global oil markets. Iran's proposal to reopen the strait within seven days has sparked cautious optimism, with many watching to see how the US will respond.
The US and Iran have been engaged in a war of words for months, with tensions escalating in recent weeks. The Iranian president has called on the US to choose between ending the war or continuing down a path of escalation. The international community is watching closely, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Key points
- Iran submits proposal to US to end war, reopen Strait of Hormuz within 7 days
- Proposal involves release of frozen Iranian assets, lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil
- US response to proposal pending, with China reportedly supporting the plan
