Iran proposes 7-day plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz, saying it will not make concessions on nuclear issue

Iran has proposed to the United States a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if necessary conditions are met. However, a senior Iranian official said on the 25th that even if the United States accepts the conditions for reopening the strait, Iran will not give in on the nuclear issue.

Reuters reported on the 25th that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed on the 24th that Iran proposed a "seven-day plan" to the United States through Qatar. If the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, lifts the freeze on Iranian funds, and waives oil sanctions, Tehran can initiate this plan within seven days to reopen this strategic waterway and cease hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

A senior Iranian official who requested anonymity said on the 25th that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets "all Iran's conditions" and that Iran will not compromise on its "rights" related to nuclear issues, including uranium enrichment, or transport highly enriched uranium out of the country. However, these two points are one of the main requirements of the United States towards Iran.

The country's President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on the 24th that he hoped to reach an agreement with Washington to end hostilities before the US midterm elections on November 3. However, Tehran stated that it would only be willing to launch detailed negotiations on the nuclear program after the United States first meets its conditions.

Israel, the United States and other Western countries have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, which Iran denies. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran had 440.9 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium when Israel and the United States attacked Iran's nuclear facilities last June. It is unclear how much highly enriched uranium Iran has in stock; the 60% concentration is well above civilian needs and closer to the 90% required for nuclear weapons.

Reuters reported in May that according to two Iranian sources, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered that domestic highly enriched uranium should not be shipped overseas. However, Iranian authorities have said they may agree to dilute their most concentrated uranium stockpile.