Trump Faces Iran's Tough Ultimatum: Open Strait, End Conflict
Iran has proposed a seven-day timetable to reopen the strait of Hormuz and restart talks on its nuclear program, requiring US President Donald Trump to make difficult concessions. The deal would rapidly extricate Trump from his current political crisis but comes with significant conditions, including lifting Iranian asset freezes, permitting Iran to export oil, and ordering Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu to end attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The proposal was pitched as a way for Trump to avoid going back to war with Iran after the midterm elections. Iranian diplomats believe they have done the diplomatic spadework, taking their plan to China for endorsement and ensuring Oman's support. They are skeptical about the US delivering, given past experiences.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained that the new deal contains elements of the June memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Trump. He said Iran had asked the US to meet conditions 'nothing new, nothing more than what was already in the Islamabad agreement.'