Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 28
Araghchi Pushes 7-Day Hormuz Reopening Plan as US Demands Nuclear Steps
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 28

Araghchi Pushes 7-Day Hormuz Reopening Plan as US Demands Nuclear Steps

3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 28

Summary

  • Qatari mediators met Abbas Araghchi in New York on Monday to carry Iran’s latest Strait of Hormuz reopening proposal to Washington, with Tehran expecting a final US response by Tuesday.
  • The Iranian plan would release frozen funds, lift sanctions and end the US naval blockade within four or five days, then reopen the strait and start final talks on Iran’s nuclear programme by day seven.
  • A US official called the indirect talks constructive but said no war-ending deal is possible unless Tehran’s nuclear programme is addressed; both sides still differ on sequencing and reciprocal commitments.
  • The strait has remained closed since shortly after the February 28 US-Israeli offensive, disrupting a route that handled about 20% of global oil and gas and helping push crude above $100 a barrel.
  • September Middle East crude exports recovered to 12.8 million bpd from wartime lows but stayed far below February’s 18.8 million, underscoring the economic pressure behind the mediation push.

Insights

Can indirect U.S.-Iran talks break the sanctions-for-nuclear deadlock before oil shocks and regional attacks spiral further?
If mediators can pass messages, what still prevents Washington and Tehran from turning a seven-day truce idea into a real deal?