Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours if the United States meets its conditions, presenting a possible opening in negotiations aimed at ending the war. Under the revised plan, Washington would act on the first day and shipping would resume on the second, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
The proposal was reportedly shortened from an earlier seven-day timetable with the help of Qatari mediators. Iranian negotiators held a third consecutive day of discussions with Qatari officials on Sunday, while an Iranian delegation remained in Doha for consultations. No direct talks between Iran and the United States were planned.
President Donald Trump said negotiations were “going fine” and that Iran wanted an agreement, although he added that Washington was not in a hurry. He also repeated warnings about possible attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the site referred to as Pickaxe Mountain.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had not decided whether to order further strikes, while maintaining that a diplomatic settlement was still possible. Iran’s stated demands include sanctions relief, access to frozen funds, restored oil waivers, recognition of a shipping route designated with Oman, a reduced U.S. military presence and an end to attacks on Lebanon.
Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said a letter from Vice President JD Vance suggested a more conciliatory U.S. position. However, he said Tehran would not reopen the waterway before its conditions were fulfilled.
The diplomatic activity coincided with escalating military warnings. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered commanders to prepare an immediate response to any attack without geographical limits, while Iranian officials threatened to target a broader range of sites.
Shipping through the strait also remained disrupted. Iran’s navy said a tanker caught fire after striking mines east of Hormuz, without identifying the vessel or providing information about its crew. Iranian state media separately reported that two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines while using what Iran described as an unauthorized route.
Iran has restricted vessels seeking to pass through the waterway and attacked ships it says breached those restrictions. U.S. Central Command said its blockade of Iranian ports had redirected 144 commercial vessels, highlighting the impact on regional maritime traffic.
The disruption continues to threaten energy supplies. Germany’s gas storage industry said reserves were at 61.35% ahead of winter, below the country’s 80% target, partly because of war-related energy costs. The coming days will indicate whether the proposed reopening arrangement can move forward before Washington and Tehran resolve their wider disagreements.
Sources: Investing.com News.