Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran no longer trusts talks with Washington but is awaiting a US response to its proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Qatar and Pakistan are relaying Iran’s messages, he said.
Under the proposal, Washington would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, release an estimated $12bn in frozen Iranian assets and observe a regional ceasefire, including in Lebanon and Yemen. Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said initial steps would take four to five days, the strait would reopen on day six, and talks on a final deal covering Iran’s nuclear programme would begin on day seven.
Pezeshkian said negotiations are based on a June memorandum of understanding that lapsed last month, and that Washington must clarify its position. He denied Iran was responsible for the Strait’s closure, saying the US had closed routes to Iran first and calling the closure a “natural response”. He said commercial shipping could resume if negotiations ended the war.
