Tehran: Iran has reaffirmed its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the United States meets its conditions, as diplomatic efforts continue to end the conflict between the two countries. Tehran is awaiting Washington's response to the proposal, which was developed through discussions involving regional mediators.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the proposal was based on an earlier seven stage initiative presented by Tehran during the United Nations General Assembly in September. The implementation period has since been reduced to two days following consultations involving Qatar and Pakistan.
Under the revised proposal, the United States would first meet Iran's demands, including ending its naval blockade of Iranian ports and addressing restrictions on Iranian oil exports. Iran would then reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the proposed two day period, allowing diplomatic negotiations to resume.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained the revised timetable in an interview with Al Jazeera. He said the original proposal allowed seven days for implementation but was shortened following consultations with regional mediators. He added that the plan was intended to create conditions for further negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Iran has also demanded the lifting of sanctions imposed after an earlier memorandum of understanding reached in June, the release of frozen Iranian funds held overseas, including assets in Qatar, and a reduction in the American military presence in the region. Tehran has also called for recognition of its proposed shipping arrangements with Oman and the closure of alternative routes.
The Iranian government has made clear that reopening the waterway depends on the United States accepting its conditions. Baghaei said Iran had communicated its demands to Washington through mediators and that the next step depended on the American response.
Meanwhile, Iranian negotiators left Doha on Sunday, November 1, after three consecutive days of consultations with Qatari mediators. Their departure did not indicate a breakdown in negotiations, as diplomatic communication between the two countries continued through intermediaries.
An official familiar with the discussions said a draft proposal was being circulated among the parties for feedback, while further meetings remained possible. However, no new meeting has been officially confirmed.
The United States has not publicly accepted Iran's conditions, and major disagreements remain over the order in which the two sides should address the naval blockade, economic restrictions and Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran wants its immediate maritime and economic demands addressed before returning to nuclear negotiations, while Washington wants the nuclear issue included in the discussions.
Another development in the diplomatic efforts involves US Vice President JD Vance, who reportedly sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, through Qatari intermediaries. Rezaei confirmed receiving the communication. However, the complete contents of the letter have not been made public, and Iran has not announced its formal response.
The diplomatic efforts are taking place amid continuing security concerns in the Gulf. Qatar condemned an incident involving its liquefied natural gas carrier, Al Mayeda, which was struck by unidentified objects while sailing in the Arabian Gulf on Friday evening, October 30.
The vessel's operator, Nakilat, said no crew members were injured and no environmental damage was reported. Qatar has launched an investigation to establish the circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy also said two oil tankers had exploded after hitting mines while travelling through what it described as an unauthorised route in the Strait of Hormuz. The circumstances of the reported incidents have not been independently established.
The United States continues to maintain its naval blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, while Iran has imposed restrictions on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. These separate measures have created serious difficulties for international maritime traffic and increased concerns about the security of energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world's most important routes for transporting oil and liquefied natural gas. Around 20 million barrels of oil passed through the waterway each day on average in 2025, accounting for a significant share of global oil trade.
Major Asian economies, including China, India, Japan and South Korea, depend on energy supplies transported through the route. Any prolonged disruption could affect international oil prices, shipping costs and energy security.
China and Russia have called for diplomatic solutions to prevent further military escalation. China has also announced plans to send a special envoy to Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in November as part of its diplomatic efforts.
Despite these initiatives, no final agreement has been announced. Iran's two day proposal remains conditional on American action, while Washington's response will be crucial in determining whether diplomatic efforts can lead to an agreement and restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.