Iran proposes 7-day plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz, US has not yet responded

U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the war situation in the Middle East during their talks yesterday. Iran on Thursday urged the United States to accept a seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting in the Middle East.

Reuters reported that China is highly dependent on oil supplies from the Middle East. However, oil transportation has been blocked by Iran's threats to oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz and the advance of the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group allied with Iran, along the strategic Red Sea route.

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According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, Xi Jinping urged the United States and Iran to return to the framework agreement that brokered a brief ceasefire in June and continue negotiations to reach a comprehensive agreement.

At the same time, U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said today that Trump warned Xi Jinping not to provide support to Iran and received a guarantee from China that it would not do so. Xi Jinping concluded his three-day state visit today.

This series of diplomatic activities highlights that this seven-month war has global interests at stake. The U.S.-Iran war disrupted oil transportation along major global shipping routes and affected regional and world powers.

Xi Jinping's visit to the United States coincides with the United Nations General Assembly, and Iran and the United States also have diplomatic contacts through the mediation of Qatar.

Iran is happy to see Xi Jinping push for a return to the June framework agreement, but it also once again emphasized the peace plan officially announced yesterday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the media at the United Nations Headquarters in New York today: "Iran has proposed a specific seven-day plan to the United States through Qatar. If the necessary conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz can be reopened within seven days and normal maritime traffic can be restored. The choice now lies with the United States."

"Once the United States accepts this plan, the seven-day process will start immediately," he said.

The United States has not publicly responded to Iran's proposal, but an unnamed U.S. official said: "We have positive and constructive discussions through mediators, and we continue to discuss nuclear issues."

Araqchi said that if the United States agrees, the warring parties are expected to launch broader negotiations on "mutually agreed-upon issues"; Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz and hostilities on all fronts will cease, including in Lebanon. The plan also calls for the United States to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, unfreeze Iranian funds and waive oil sanctions.

But another senior Iranian official told Reuters that even if the United States accepts Iran's peace plan, Iran will not show any flexibility in its nuclear program. The official said Iran would not give up its rights, including enriching uranium or shipping highly enriched uranium out of the country.

Pang Dewei said in an interview with the US media CNBC that Trump reiterated to Xi Jinping that supporting Iran directly or indirectly was "completely unacceptable."

In addition, Fox News asked Pang Dewei whether this means that China will stop assisting Iran. Pang Dewei said: "They assured us yesterday that they would not do this." (Compiler: Lu Yingzi) 1150926