Iran has proposed a plan to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz within seven days, though the United States has not officially responded to the offer, and reports suggest President Donald Trump has rejected it. The strait, a crucial artery for global oil shipments, remains a focal point of tension between Tehran and Washington after nearly seven months of stalled diplomacy.
Iranian officials revealed the details of the proposal during the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi disclosed that his country had communicated a concrete plan to the United States through Qatar. Under this plan, the Strait of Hormuz would resume normal maritime traffic within a week, contingent on the U.S. meeting specific conditions. Araghchi emphasized that Iran would not accept coercion or threats and insisted on safeguarding its sovereign rights.
The plan reportedly requires a comprehensive cessation of hostilities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon and Yemen, alongside the release of at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions targeting Iranian oil exports, and an end to the U.S. naval blockade on Iran’s waters. On the seventh day of the proposed truce, Iran would reopen the strait. These terms align with those contained in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the two countries in June, which sought to halt conflict, reopen the strait, and initiate discussions on Iran’s nuclear program.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, returning to Tehran after attending the UN session, said the Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei supports the initiative. He noted, however, that Iran no longer trusts the United States to fulfill its commitments, referencing previous failed negotiations. Pezeshkian also stated that the process of reopening the waterway could begin immediately once Washington agrees to the terms.
Despite Iran’s overture, U.S. officials cited by The Wall Street Journal indicated that President Trump dismissed the proposal, expressing skepticism about Tehran’s willingness to comply with demands. The 80-year-old president reportedly anticipates a possible escalation, including a renewed bombing campaign. Trump further underscored the importance of the strait by posting a map on his Truth Social platform labeling the passage “Trump Strait.”
Hossein Mohebi, spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, vowed that punitive measures against the United States would continue until Iran’s conditions are fully met. He also confirmed that ending hostilities in Yemen formed part of Tehran’s demands.
The earlier MOU agreement unraveled after Iran targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, accusing them of failing to adhere to authorized navigational routes. Iran requires ships to obtain permission before transiting the strait for security reasons, and vessels that do not comply are often subject to attack. The United States has responded at times with strikes on Iranian coastal sites.
As of now, efforts to break the deadlock remain ongoing, but significant differences persist between Tehran and Washington over terms for reopening the crucial shipping lane.