Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, according to a report by Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, which cited unnamed sources. The report said Tehran conveyed the offer to Washington through Pakistani mediators and told Pakistan it was ready to resume negotiations with the United States.
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, also said Saturday that Tehran had told Pakistani mediators it was prepared to reopen the strait if Washington ended the blockade, the Associated Press reported.
However, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency quoted an informed source who dismissed the Al Arabiya report as “lies and fantasy” and said Tehran had made no new proposal to Pakistani mediators. “Iran fundamentally does not accept any equation of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the blockade,” the source said. Tasnim’s denial was aimed at the Al Arabiya report and did not address the ambassador’s remarks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on October 18 that Iran’s seven-day proposal to reopen the strait remained on the table. Under that plan, Tehran wants Washington to lift its blockade, remove restrictions on Iranian oil exports and end hostilities across regional fronts. Araghchi said the strait could reopen on the sixth day after Washington accepted Iran’s terms, with negotiations resuming the following day.
Washington rejected an earlier Iranian proposal to reopen Hormuz in exchange for lifting the blockade. The reported offer comes as the United States builds up its forces in the region, and as President Donald Trump weighs resuming strikes on Iran.
