Iran discusses plan with mediators to end war, reopen Hormuz: Araghchi

Iran is discussing proposals with regional mediators to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran is reviewing ways to implement its seven-day plan in an even shorter timeframe.

“We remain in close and ongoing contact with intermediaries to review ideas that can ensure implementation of our 7-Day Plan in even less than a week,” Araghchi said in a post on X on Wednesday, adding that Iran remained willing to give diplomacy a chance despite being prepared to defend itself against renewed attacks.

The plan, conveyed to the US through Qatar in September, calls for an end to hostilities, the lifting of the US naval blockade, sanctions relief for Iran’s oil sector and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

Under the proposal, Tehran would reopen the strategic waterway to commercial shipping and resume negotiations with Washington within a week if its conditions were met.

The diplomatic efforts come amid mounting US and Israeli threats of renewed attacks following the war launched against Iran in February.

Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing Iranian sources, that Tehran was considering a proposal to end the conflict received from Qatari mediators over the weekend.

A Qatari delegation visited Tehran on Sunday to discuss developments, including negotiations, the Strait of Hormuz and energy supplies.

Axios reported that Qatar-led mediation efforts were aimed at restarting US-Iran talks and preventing a resumption of hostilities after the November 3 US midterm elections.

The report said Qatar was seeking to persuade Iran to allow UN inspectors to visit bombed nuclear sites in exchange for some US sanctions relief.

The New York Times separately reported that Qatar was working on a proposed five-day agreement under which Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for the United States lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports.