Iran Offers Seven-Day Hormuz Reopening

Iran has offered to restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, eases military pressure and commits to diplomacy. Tehran also demands the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to hostilities across the region’s “resistance” fronts and compliance with prior commitments; negotiations could proceed through mediators at the U.N. General Assembly. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly discussed the conditions with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, while a meeting between Presidents Masoud Pezeshkian and Donald Trump was ruled out, though Trump described U.S.-Iran talks as productive. The United States says the strait remains open under military protection, claiming it has escorted more than 2,000 commercial transits, facilitated hundreds of millions of barrels of oil shipments and redirected more than 100 vessels to enforce its blockade. Independent shipping data shows traffic remains below prewar levels, with competing blockades and security risks disrupting flows through a waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Oil prices fell about 1% after the proposal, but tensions remain high as Iran warns of retaliation against renewed U.S. military action and Washington threatens further measures, including sanctions.