Iran on Tuesday reportedly offered to reopen the Hormuz Strait within seven days if the United States takes initial steps toward easing military pressure.Speaking to Kyodo news agency, a senior Iranian government official said: “There is a possibility of moving toward an agreement”, adding that the US must demonstrate “seriousness and commitment” for diplomacy to advance.Iran seeks a table to negotiate with the US as the military blockade of its ports continues and reports emerge of a potential resumption of strikes.According to the official if such steps are taken, Iran is prepared to reopen the strategic waterway within seven days and negotiate on war-ending terms.The ongoing standoff continues to hinder shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s increasing focus on diplomacy comes at a time when restrictions on its ports are squeezing crude oil exports, one of the country’s principal sources of revenue.According to the official, the new initiative has received approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s highest security authority.Tehran intends to use this week’s UN General Assembly gathering in New York to hold consultations with the countries serving as mediators.
Meet at the UN?
The official ruled out any meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the assembly, though he said headway towards a deal was still achievable.However, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, expressed his willingness to meet Iranian officials at the UN.“We’re open to that. I don’t think anything is scheduled at this point, but we’re certainly open to something like that – especially if it has the prospects of leading to something positive and ultimately achieving the goal of what this is all about,” he said during an interview with NBC News on Tuesday.The nearly seven month old conflict broke out on February 28, after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and other regional countries hosting US assets.Following a ceasefire brokered by Pakistan in April, the US and Iran signed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in June, granting both sides 60 days to negotiate a long-term settlement.However, the two sides soon resumed retaliatory strikes, prompting the US to reinforce its military blockade of Iranian ports while Tehran shut down the Hormuz Strait.The new proposal has been relayed to Washington via intermediaries, the official informed.
