News blog on the Middle East warIran: The USA has submitted a plan, now it is Washington's turn
September 26, 2026, 5:26 am|
With a view of the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran plays the ball into the American field. A “concrete” plan for opening the strait has been presented - now it is up to Washington to act.
All developments in the live blog
Much information about the course of the war, such as the number of victims or details of battles, cannot be independently verified. In addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA and Bloomberg for our live blog.
Important updates
Iran: USA have submitted plan, now it is Washington's turn
Reports: Iran presents seven-day plan to end war
France's military wants to protect oil port in Saudi Arabia
Peseschkian: Iran is ready to hand over highly enriched uranium
Iranian President: USA must decide whether to end the war
Lucia Geier
Iran: USA have submitted plan, now it is Washington's turn
Iran says it has presented the US with a “concrete” seven-day plan to open the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Now the decision rests with the USA, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told journalists at the United Nations in New York:
"If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened and normal shipping traffic restored within seven days. The decision now rests with the United States."
Abbas Araghchi
The steps that the USA must take are not new. “They are all already in the memorandum of understanding,” he said, referring to the memorandum of understanding that Iran and the United States agreed to in June. A US official said they were in “no hurry” and were holding positive and constructive talks with Iran through mediators.
Lucia Geier
Security Council condemns Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia
The UN Security Council has taken a clear stance against the Houthi militia's attacks on Saudi Arabia. The most powerful body in the United Nations unanimously condemned the actions “in the strongest possible terms,” said a joint statement by the 15 states, which was presented by the French UN Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont in New York. Civilians were also injured in the attacks.
In Yemen, the civil war that has been going on for more than ten years has flared up again in the last few weeks. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels quickly took over large areas on the west coast of the Red Sea and on the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Since then, government troops and allied militias supported by Saudi Arabia have been fighting again in several parts of the country. Saudi Arabia is also coming under attack from the Houthis again.
Lucia Geier
Saudi Arabia: Coalition intercepts two drones aimed at Riyadh
The Saudi-led military coalition says it intercepted two Yemeni Houthi rebel drones aimed at the capital Riyadh. On Platform X, the alliance said it was monitoring further threats from missiles and drones. Saudi Civil Defense initially issued warnings overnight for the cities of Khamis Mushait and Abha, but not for Riyadh.
The attack is also likely to have symbolic meaning: the Shiite militia allied with Iran is once again signaling that it can also attack the Sunni kingdom's center of power. As the crow flies, Riyadh is around 850 kilometers from the border with the Houthi areas in western Yemen. Just on Thursday, the military said it intercepted six Houthi ballistic missiles. Around ten days ago, the Saudi military alliance also reported a Houthi drone attack on the holy city of Mecca for Muslims. A Houthi representative rejected this accusation.
Lucia Geier
Media: Trump rejects ceasefire with Iran
According to a media report, US President Donald Trump rejects Iran's proposal for a seven-day ceasefire. He has told his advisers that he expects to continue attacking Iran after the midterm elections in November, reports the Wall Street Journal, citing US government circles.
Reports: Iran presents seven-day plan to end war
According to media reports, Iran has presented the USA with a new proposal to resume negotiations on a possible end to the war. A plan was presented to the US government through intermediaries that would allow the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened after seven days if certain conditions were met, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told journalists on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to the New York Times and the Financial Times.
The plan could be implemented immediately after Washington's approval, said Araghtschi. It remained unclear which conditions he was supposed to have referred to in his statements. However, Araghtschi allegedly referred to the framework agreement agreed in June, which was actually intended to work towards opening the strait. However, in view of ongoing tensions, the agreement quickly collapsed.
As negotiating partners reported on Thursday (local time), an agreement could stipulate that Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and in return Washington lifts the economic blockade against Iran. This was reported by the Reuters news agency.
In the past, the leadership in Tehran had demanded, among other things, that the US release frozen Iranian assets, end the war on all fronts and lift its blockade of Iranian ports and ships. The Islamic Republic also demanded that Washington not interfere in the country's internal affairs.
When asked about the Iranians' alleged offer to negotiate, the White House simply said: "We are holding positive and constructive discussions through the mediators."
Ulrike Putz
France's military wants to protect oil port in Saudi Arabia
To help supply the world market with oil from Saudi Arabia, France's military will protect a key oil terminal in the kingdom on the Red Sea. For this purpose, soldiers, radar systems and defense systems would be sent to the port city of Yanbu, said French President Emmanuel Macron to the channels TF1 and France 2. The talks with Saudi Arabia were concluded today, he said in the interview published on Thursday evening.
Before the Iran war, Saudi Arabia was the second largest oil producer behind the USA and the most important exporter of the raw material, which is of central importance to the global economy. The important east-west pipeline, bypassing the effectively blocked Strait of Hormuz, brings large quantities of oil from the country's east coast on the Persian Gulf to be shipped to Yanbu on the Red Sea to the west.
Ulrike Putz
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan plan crisis meetings after Houthi attacks
After attacks by the Yemeni Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are planning an emergency meeting of their chiefs of general staff. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that options for supporting the government in Riyadh should be discussed within the framework of a joint defense agreement. According to the ministry, the three states also affirm Saudi Arabia's right to take self-defense measures in accordance with the UN Charter.
Ulrike Putz
Peseschkian: Iran is ready to hand over highly enriched uranium
Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian has declared his fundamental willingness to hand over the highly enriched uranium in his country's possession. When asked whether Iran was ready to do this, he told US broadcaster Fox News: "Yes, within the framework of international law, on the basis of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, we will abide by everything we are obliged to do." The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty prohibits the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has around 440 kilograms of uranium with a purity of around 60 percent. According to the IAEA, the amount would be enough for several nuclear weapons if the purity level were increased a little further. IAEA inspectors currently have no access to the more than 20 known sites of Iran's nuclear program.
Peseschkian evaded the question of why Iran even had highly enriched uranium. “We had been negotiating and were prepared to dilute the material on a large scale,” he said. Then the USA attacked Iran. Peseschkian also responded to questions about the uranium with a dig at US President Donald Trump - according to the US government, it had been completely destroyed, he said.
According to the agreed framework agreement, the USA and Iran actually wanted to clarify in further negotiations how to deal with the material. But the agreement expired without an extension.
Ulrike Putz
Iranian President: USA must decide whether to end the war
According to Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian, the USA must decide whether to end the war with Iran. In an interview with US television channel Fox News, when asked about a possible end to the war later this year, he said: “It is America that has to decide whether it wants to end this or not.”
Ulrike Putz
Yemen's government calls for international help against Houthis
The government of Yemen is calling on the international community to provide greater support in the fight against the Houthi militia. Yemen is capable of ending the militia threat and protecting its ports and territorial waters, said Abdullah al-Alimi of Yemen's Presidential Council, which leads the internationally recognized government in Yemen, at the UN General Debate in New York.
To do this, however, the international community must assume its responsibility, stop the flow of weapons and technologies to the Houthis and strengthen the country's security forces and economy. Yemen does not demand that others lead its fight, al-Alimi said. Long-term security of the important shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait is not possible without the restoration of state control in Yemen.
Netanyahu speaks to almost empty rows at the UN
Numerous country representatives left the hall at the United Nations in protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before his speech. Other delegates applauded the Israeli leader during his appearance at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Netanyahu responded to the protest with sharp words. “If there are any other moral cowards who haven’t left this room yet, please do so now,” he said. There were also protests against the Israeli politician in front of the UN building.
Protest in New York before Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech at the UN. Photo: Madison Swart/AP/dpa
Carim Soliman
Iranian plane forced to turn back due to US sanctions
An Iranian passenger plane has been forced to turn back following the announcement of new US sanctions against Iran's aviation sector. “Since Turkmenistan did not grant Iranian airlines permission to fly over its airspace, the Tehran-Dushanbe flight could not land at its destination,” the Isna news agency reported, citing a spokesman for the Iranian aviation authority.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced further pressure on the Iranian aviation sector and third countries in an interview on Monday. He threatened countries with exclusion from the US dollar system if they supplied Iranian airlines with fuel, provided landing services or sold tickets for them.
The statements followed new, sweeping US sanctions against Iran's aviation sector two weeks ago. Among other things, flights from Tehran to the United Arab Emirates, the Iraqi capital Baghdad and Oman are no longer possible. Istanbul, as one of the most important hubs for travel to Iran, still offers connections to Tehran. However, travelers report uncertainty and chaos at the counters.
Some connections are also still possible to China, Iran's most important trading partner. The People's Republic criticized the US sanctions. “We firmly reject unlawful unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and for which there is no mandate from the UN Security Council,” said Foreign Office spokesman Guo Jiakun in Beijing.
Ulrike Putz
EU Council chief calls on Iran to cooperate with nuclear agency
EU Council President Antonio Costa says he is calling on Iran to resume cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In a conversation with Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian, he also spoke out in favor of an end to Iranian attacks on neighboring states and the complete restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, explains Costa.
Insider: Wadephul calls on Iranian foreign minister to negotiate
According to delegation circles, Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called on his Iranian colleague Abbas Aragtschi to negotiate at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Iran must “participate seriously and credibly in sustainable negotiations with the USA and neighboring countries in the region,” it said. Overall, there must be a willingness to compromise in order to find a solution to the entrenched conflict in the region. Germany, France and Great Britain, known as E3, are ready to support mediation efforts.
Both Iran and allied militias must stop attacks on civilian ships, demanded the CDU politician, alluding to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Germany expects free passage in the Strait of Hormuz to be restored immediately. “Germany rejects fees of any kind, including voluntary ones, for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iran's President: Won't give up civilian nuclear energy
According to its president, Iran will not give up the civilian use of nuclear energy. “Iran's nuclear issue will not be solved on the battlefield,” said Massoud Peseschkian, referring to the war between Israel and the USA. At the same time, at the UN general debate in New York, he once again assured that Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons. "The solution is an agreement that gives the world credible assurance about the peaceful nature of Iran's program and the Iranian nation assurance that its rights will be respected," he continued.
At the same time, Peseschkia complained
