Iran's foreign minister says US midterm results have frozen mediators' efforts

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday (local time) that mediating countries have been temporarily locked in a standoff following the US midterm election results.

Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting that day, Araghchi was asked about Iran's position on the US election outcome. "You have all seen the results," he said. "Now we must wait to see when they — the Americans — fully accept the outcome and what steps they will take going forward."

Turning to the state of truce mediation, Araghchi said that "over the past few days, in the wake of the election results, there has been no movement whatsoever from the mediating countries," adding that "it appears some time will be needed before conditions improve and mediators can re-engage."

Earlier, ahead of the US midterm elections, Iran had presented Washington with a so-called "two-day plan" — a condensed version of a seven-stage proposal — transmitted through Qatar, which has been serving as a mediator. Iran's core demands were reported to include the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports, a sanctions waiver on Iranian oil sales, the cancellation of new sanctions, and the return of frozen assets held abroad.

Iran's position was that if the United States fully and explicitly met those conditions, Tehran could open the Strait of Hormuz within two days and resume peace negotiations on other outstanding issues.

According to Reuters, Iran also conveyed through Qatar a separate set of nuclear-related proposals to be discussed only after all of its demands had been met.