Iran's Araghchi offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz in 2 days if US meets its demands

Iran has linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a series of demands from the United States, proposing a two-day timeline for restoring access to the strategic waterway as diplomatic talks involving Qatar continue, Al Jazeera reported.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with Qatari mediators had shortened the proposed implementation period from five days to two. However, the plan is conditional on Washington meeting Tehran's demands.

“The Qatari side proposed shortening the implementation period of the Iranian proposal to five days. We have reached a proposal at this stage that reduces the implementation period to two days,” Araghchi said, news agency ANI reports.

Iran's conditions include lifting US sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum, reducing American military forces in the region, restoring oil waivers and releasing frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar. Tehran has also demanded recognition of a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, established through discussions with Oman, and the closure of other routes. Araghchi said reopening the waterway on Iran's terms could pave the way for negotiations with Washington on outstanding issues.

Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei had earlier said negotiations would not take place and the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Tehran's seven conditions were fulfilled. In a post on X, Rezaei said diplomacy remained possible if the US met Iran's demands but warned of retaliation if the country faced another attack.

“We have repeatedly stated: the seven conditions announced by Iran must be fulfilled. If the conditions are met, the path of diplomacy will be open,” he said.

Iran's demands also include ending the war across all fronts, particularly Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The latest developments follow the delivery of a letter from US Vice President JD Vance to Rezaei through Qatari mediators. Rezaei described Washington's changed tone in the communication as a positive sign.

“Their tone has shifted completely, which is a good sign that shows that our people have secured their victory,” he told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, according to Al Jazeera.