Iran Proposes Deal with US to End Fighting, Open Strait of Hormuz in Seven Days
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited New York for the U.N. gathering of world leaders, where they proposed a deal with the Trump administration to end fighting and open the Strait of Hormuz in seven days.
The conditions for Washington include ending its military blockade of Iranian ports, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and waiving sanctions on Iranian oil sales, among other requirements that are not new.
What's different from past failed attempts is the speedier timeline. Iran's pitch to President Donald Trump suggested a quick deal might help him in the midterm elections in November.
The U.S. and Iran held indirect talks via mediators for three hours on Tuesday, their first since the countries' previous agreement meant to end fighting and launch nuclear talks collapsed within days of signing in June.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the latest talks were good, but Trump threatened to 'annihilate' Iran during his U.N. speech. In response, Pezeshkian said Iran would fight 'until our last breath,' but also expressed a willingness to continue diplomatic efforts.
The proposal aims to ease global markets and relieve pressure on the U.S. military, which has been guiding commercial ships through the waterway at risk of Iranian attack. Lifting the naval blockade and waiving sanctions on oil sales would allow Tehran to ship out more crude and help its battered economy.