Pakistan: Iran Confirms US Response on Hormuz Reopening Plan

Tehran has confirmed it has finally received Washington's response to its seven-day roadmap for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that could mark a turning point in the diplomatic effort to end the months-long US-Iran standoff over the vital oil route.

Government Spokesperson Confirms Receipt

Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had confirmed receiving the US proposal during a cabinet meeting, though she did not reveal what the American response actually contained. Araghchi also updated the cabinet on his recent trip to New York, where he held talks with European and Gulf officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, including discussions on the conditions Iran had already handed to Washington through mediators.

What Iran Originally Proposed

The proposal at the center of the talks was first outlined by Araghchi during last week's UN General Assembly session in New York. Under the plan, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program within seven days, provided Washington lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waived sanctions on Iranian oil exports and observed a ceasefire that also covers Lebanon. Araghchi said the initial steps would take four to five days, with the strait fully reopening by the sixth or seventh day. He described the roadmap as building on the Memorandum of Understanding the two sides had signed back in June, which later collapsed.

Why the Strait Matters

The Strait of Hormuz, which separates Iran from Oman and the UAE, is one of the world's most critical energy corridors, having carried roughly a fifth of global traded oil and gas before the war disrupted shipping. Iran's partial blockade of the waterway has pushed up global oil prices and contributed to fuel shortages in several countries, giving Tehran significant leverage in the negotiations.

Washington's Position So Far

A White House official told the Financial Times last week that the US and Iran were engaged in "positive discussions" through mediators but declined to comment on the specifics of Iran's plan, saying Washington was "in a very strong position" with control of the strait and was in no rush to settle. Separately, US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz suggested President Trump did not believe Iran was negotiating in good faith, and reports have indicated Trump initially rejected the seven-day proposal outright, with some accounts suggesting Washington may wait until after the US midterm elections before resuming any military action.

What Happens Next

Araghchi has said Qatari mediators recently submitted fresh input aimed at narrowing the gap between the two sides, and that those ideas have now been relayed back to Washington. Iran has not said whether it accepts the terms of the US response, and the exact contents of that response remain undisclosed. The next move now depends on Tehran's internal assessment of the American proposal and whether both sides can agree on the sequencing of steps needed to end the crisis.

Pakistan Time Analysis

Mohajerani's confirmation came during Wednesday's cabinet meeting in Tehran, which sits in a time zone 30 minutes behind Pakistan Standard Time (PKT, UTC+5), since Iran follows Iran Standard Time (UTC+3:30). For Pakistani and international readers tracking the story, that puts Tehran roughly 8.5 hours ahead of New York and 4.5 hours ahead of London, meaning any late-day announcement from Iran typically lands in the middle of the working day in Islamabad and Karachi.

Iran Confirms US Response on Hormuz Reopening Plan

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