Iran keeps 7-day Hormuz reopening offer in play

Iran kept a seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in negotiations with Washington, Firstpost reported October 18, citing Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi’s comments to Iranian media.

Iran’s offer matters because the channel carried around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war, making any prolonged disruption a risk for Gulf energy flows.

Araqchi, who was in Baghdad for an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation meeting, said Tehran was still studying Washington’s response. He also accused the US of lacking the intent needed to conclude a deal.

“Our situation is clear and based on the seven-days proposal presented to the US. They shared comments which we are reviewing, but our proposal is still on the table and if there is any honesty on the US part, which there isn’t, the way to reopening the Strait of Hormuz is obvious,” Araqchi told Iranian media outlets on Sunday, according to Firstpost.

The proposal was submitted in mid-September after an interim ceasefire collapsed, the report said. Iran later acknowledged receiving a US response, while Iran’s security chief said last week that talks had stalled because Washington had not addressed all seven Iranian conditions.

Those conditions include lifting what Tehran describes as a US blockade on Iranian ports, easing sanctions on Iranian oil exports and ending hostilities across regional fronts, according to the report. Araqchi said the strait could reopen within six days if Washington accepted Iran’s terms, with negotiations resuming the following day.

The disagreement is also about sequencing. Iran wants initial talks to focus on the waterway and maritime security, while Washington has insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme be part of the negotiations from the start, Firstpost reported.

US Vice President JD Vance said earlier this month that Iran would need a “meaningful” reduction in uranium enrichment capacity to satisfy Washington’s demands and end the eight-month war between the countries, according to the report.

Atlas360 reported October 18 that Iranian state media said two oil tankers had hit mines in Hormuz, while Kpler figures cited in that report put flows through the strait at 11.6 million barrels a day in the seven days to October 13, equal to 68% of the pre-war baseline.

The report did not give the full text of Washington’s response to Iran’s proposal. The next measurable step is whether the two sides resume talks on Iran’s seven conditions or remain split over whether the nuclear issue comes first.

Source: news report, Firstpost, October 18, 2026