Iran says Strait of Hormuz could reopen within 2 days if US meets conditions

Iran's foreign minister said Qatar-mediated talks on a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are advancing, but stopped short of declaring a deal imminent, saying the outcome depends entirely on Washington's response.

According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with reporters Sunday (local time) after a parliamentary national security and foreign policy committee meeting, briefing them on the results of the diplomatic delegation's visit to Qatar and the state of ongoing negotiations.

Araghchi said the delegation's Qatar visit was conducted at the deputy foreign minister level and was intended to continue Qatar-mediated talks that had been held in Tehran over recent weeks. Araghchi drew a clear line on any suggestion of direct negotiations with the United States during the visit, saying no such talks had been planned from the outset.

At the center of the negotiations is a two-day implementation plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said Iran had agreed, at Qatar's request, to shorten the implementation period of its original seven-day confidence-building proposal to two days.

Under the plan, the United States would carry out relevant measures — including sanctions relief — on the first day, and Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz on the second.

Iran's stated conditions include the rollback of recently imposed US sanctions, the restoration of export licenses and waivers for Iranian oil, a reduction of US military forces in the Middle East, and respect for the maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz designated by Iran and Oman.

Araghchi said intermediaries including Qatar and Pakistan are continuing consultations on those conditions.

"We have not yet reached a definitive conclusion," Araghchi said, "and whether a final outcome is achieved depends entirely on what answer the other side — the United States — gives to our questions."

Iran says it is pursuing a diplomatic resolution while maintaining its military readiness. Araghchi said Iran's armed forces have strengthened their capabilities based on experience from the recent conflict and are prepared for the possibility of further US strikes.

The United States, for its part, is pursuing both negotiations and military pressure simultaneously.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that a decision had not yet been made on whether to resume military operations against Iran, and went on to say that Washington prefers a diplomatic solution and that talks — direct or through intermediaries — are continuing.

Donald Trump also said Saturday that negotiations with Iran are going well. At the same time, Trump kept up military pressure by naming additional potential strike targets, including a major underground nuclear facility known as "Pickaxe Mountain."

Earlier, US Central Command chief Brad Cooper was reported to have briefed Trump directly on options for striking Iran. Diplomatic outreach was also under way at the same time, with Vice President JD Vance delivering a letter to the Iranian side.

Despite the progress in talks, core disputes remain. Iran is demanding that the US first lift its maritime blockade, ease oil sanctions and return frozen funds. The United States, however, is focused on discussions over Iran's nuclear program and preventing the development of nuclear weapons.

A new peace proposal put forward by Qatar late last month was reported to include a provision allowing Iran to permit inspections of its nuclear facilities in exchange for partial US sanctions relief — a proposal Iran has signaled it opposes.

Whether Qatar's mediation leads to a breakthrough on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the conflict, or whether military tensions between the two sides escalate again, will depend on Washington's response and the outcome of further talks.