Iran has reportedly proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz without linking the move to its nuclear programme, according to two regional officials familiar with the closed-door discussions, an AP report stated on Monday.
The proposal is said to have been conveyed to the United States through Pakistan, it said.
As part of the offer, Iran is also seeking an end to what it describes as a US “blockade” on the country. The proposal notably avoids addressing Iran’s nuclear activities, which remain a central concern for Washington and its allies.
According to the report, the proposal is unlikely to gain traction with US President Donald Trump, who has insisted that any broader agreement must include the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme as well as wider regional security arrangements.
Trump reiterated his stance, saying, “We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us.”
Strategic importance of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Any disruption in the waterway has major implications for global energy markets and regional stability.
Backchannel diplomacy
The proposal, first reported by Axios, highlights continued behind-the-scenes diplomatic engagement despite heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. However, differences remain significant, particularly over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, according to the AP report.
Araghchi arrives in Russia
Meanwhile, in a continued diplomatic push to navigate the regional crisis, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in St Petersburg for high-level discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the Iranian state media broadcaster IRNA reports, the visit follows a series of shuttle diplomacy missions in Oman and Pakistan, as Tehran seeks international support for its recent proposal to de-escalate hostilities.
Reporting on the arrival, the Iranian state media broadcaster IRNA noted that Araghchi`s flight to the Russian city carried the significant callsign “Minab 168.” The designation was chosen in memory of the children killed during a US-Israeli military strike on an elementary school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on February 28, reported ANI.
(with AP and ANI inputs)