Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US lifts its blockade and oil sanctions. Should Washington take the deal?
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi set out the plan at the UN General Assembly, and it was passed to the US through mediators. It also asks for a ceasefire that includes Lebanon, with nuclear talks resuming within the seven days. A similar deal agreed in June collapsed within weeks.
What happened
On 24 September, at a private gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi outlined a plan passed to Washington through mediators. Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks within seven days if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire that includes Lebanon. It closely resembles a memorandum of understanding agreed in June, which collapsed when Iran resumed attacks on shipping. The White House said it was having "positive and constructive conversations with mediators".
Why people disagree
Supporters say reopening a route that carried about a fifth of the world's traded oil and gas would ease high energy prices and inflation, and that talks are the only realistic way to end a war now nearly seven months old. Sceptics point out that the June deal fell apart when attacks on shipping resumed. They argue that lifting the blockade and sanctions first would give up America's main leverage before Iran has taken any verifiable step.
What's still unclear
It is unclear whether the US will formally respond, whether Saudi Arabia and other regional allies would back a deal, and whether hard-liners in Iran's parliament would accept one. Reports also differ on the full terms: Al Jazeera says the plan includes the release of frozen Iranian assets.
Sources
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