Iran proposes ending its control of the strategic waterway and the war in exchange for lifting U.S. sanctions, postponing nuclear talks.
1:14 PM
Iran has offered to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports and terminates the war, according to reports Monday citing regional officials and American sources. The proposal would postpone discussions on Iran's nuclear program to a later stage.
The offer was conveyed to American officials through Pakistani mediators, according to the Associated Press. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passes during peacetime, has been closed as part of the broader conflict between the U.S. and Iran that began February 28.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi communicated the proposal to Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari mediators over the weekend, according to sources cited by Axios. The Iranian leadership indicated there is no consensus within the government on how to respond to U.S. demands regarding nuclear concessions, prompting the new proposal to sidestep those disagreements and reach a quicker agreement on reopening the strait.
Washington has demanded that Tehran suspend uranium enrichment for at least ten years and remove its enriched uranium from the country. The Iranian proposal seeks to defer these nuclear negotiations while addressing the immediate issue of shipping disruption.
U.S. President Donald Trump appears unlikely to accept the offer. Trump has previously vowed not to lift the blockade until a deal with Iran is "100% complete," according to reports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested skepticism toward the Iranian proposal during a Fox News interview Monday morning, stating that Iran's definition of opening the straits would require U.S. coordination with Tehran.
The U.S. blockade is designed to prevent Iran from selling its oil, depriving the country of crucial revenue. The closure has also created potential storage problems for Iranian oil production. The standoff over the strait has put pressure on Trump administration officials, as oil and gasoline prices have risen significantly ahead of crucial midterm elections.
A fragile ceasefire remains in place between the U.S. and Iran following the two-month-old war. The disagreements over Iran's nuclear program that led to the initial conflict remain unresolved under the terms of Iran's current proposal.
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