Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz in Seven-Day Plan

The Government of Iran has proposed a concrete seven-day roadmap to end its conflict with the United States, offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation if Washington lifts its naval blockade, waives oil sanctions, and releases at least $12 billion in frozen assets. Conveyed through Qatari mediators during the UN General Assembly in New York, the plan requires a cessation of all hostilities across the Middle East, including in Lebanon and Yemen. Under the proposed timeline, the waterway would reopen on the sixth day, with formal nuclear negotiations beginning on the seventh.

President Donald Trump has responded with contradictory signals. While some U.S. officials described indirect talks as positive and constructive, Trump threatened to annihilate the Islamic Republic and posted a map on Truth Social renaming the waterway the Trump Strait. Reports indicate he is skeptical of Iranian compliance and may favor renewed military strikes after the November midterm elections. Conversely, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed a desire to reach a deal before the elections, urging a return to a June memorandum of understanding.

Regional tensions remain high as Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabian cities, including Riyadh and Yanbu. In response, France announced the deployment of defense systems to protect Saudi energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would adopt an offensive posture if diplomacy fails, characterizing current negotiations as another phase of the war.