Iran Proposes Seven-Day Plan to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Ahead of US Midterms

Iran has presented the United States with a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Speaking in New York on Thursday, Araghchi stated that the clock would start immediately upon Washington’s acceptance of the plan. The diplomatic exchange is being facilitated by Qatar during the United Nations General Assembly.

While both nations have characterized the indirect contact positively, neither side has signaled a breakthrough as the conflict enters its seventh month. Analysts warn that a comprehensive peace agreement remains unlikely due to fundamental disagreements over the sequencing of negotiations.

Araghchi indicated that the new proposal mirrors a memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which temporarily eased hostilities before collapsing. Under that earlier deal, Iran permitted toll-free shipping through the strait for 60 days to allow time for peace talks. However, Araghchi did not specify whether similar financial terms are part of this latest offer, nor did he clarify verification mechanisms or the rules for shipping once the waterway is reopened.

Experts suggest that Iran views control of the strait as its primary economic lever. Urban Coningham, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that Tehran is unlikely to surrender oversight of the vital maritime route. “Hormuz is a clear Iranian red line,” Coningham said. “The Iranians will not get reparations for the war, so control of the strait is the only way they can recover economically.”

The June agreement had established an immediate halt to military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, and included US waivers for Iranian oil exports. It deferred contentious issues, such as Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, to broader negotiations. However, the accord unraveled following renewed disputes over shipping routes.

Coningham observed that Iran’s current plan follows the previous model: reopening the strait first, followed by discussions on the nuclear file. This contrasts with the US position, which seeks to address all issues as a single package. “The US does not want to compartmentalise the issues, it wants them discussed as one package,” he said.

The public nature of the proposal, made at the UN, is seen as a strategic move to influence US politics. With the American midterms approaching, high fuel prices are a concern for voters. A deal to reopen the strait could lower energy costs, potentially benefiting the Republican Party. However, President Trump has dismissed the electoral timing as a factor in his decision-making, stating during his General Assembly address that Iran will never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon. He also predicted that any agreement would occur after the November votes and threatened to “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if no deal is reached.

Trump hinted that Iran may be waiting to see how his party performs in the elections. Coningham remains skeptical that falling energy prices alone will compel the US administration to accept Iran’s preferred negotiation order, noting that the proposal fails to address the nuclear question.

Recent talks between Araghchi, US envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner were described as productive by the Iranian side. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned against labeling the meeting a major breakthrough.

Burcu Ozcelik, a senior research fellow for Middle East security, highlighted the divergent assumptions driving both sides. She argued that the Trump administration believes its naval blockade and sanctions are effective and is unlikely to revive the failed June agreement. “The US appears to believe it can wait this out until Tehran is prepared to make meaningful concessions,” Ozcelik said. Meanwhile, Iran maintains its defiance despite evident economic strain.