Iran awaits U.S.’ Hormuz plan RESPONSE

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran expects a formal response from the United States on Tuesday to its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Araghchi said Qatari intermediaries had discussed proposals with Tehran and would relay Washington’s response.

“The current focus is solely on the Strait of Hormuz, and the reopening of the strait is contingent upon the fulfilment of certain conditions that we have communicated to the other side,” he said.

The key shipping route, which carried about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas before the conflict, has been blockaded by Tehran since fighting with the United States and Israel began in late February. Washington responded with a blockade of Iranian ports.

Araghchi met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in New York last week.

Iran is demanding a seven-day ceasefire across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, as a condition for ending its blockade. Tehran is also seeking the unfreezing of Iranian assets abroad, the lifting of sanctions on its oil sector and an end to the US naval blockade.