Iran awaits an official US reply to a Qatari-mediated plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pause regional fighting. Araqchi said an agreement would trigger a seven-day countdown to reopening; Reuters could not confirm a Wall Street Journal report that Trump rejected it.
Araqchi said the proposal would halt hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, and require the US to lift its blockade on Iranian ports, release Iran's frozen funds and waive oil sanctions. If Washington agreed, wider talks on mutually agreed subjects could follow and might include Iran's nuclear program. An Iranian official told Reuters Tehran would make no concessions on its nuclear program, even if the US accepted the deal, including on uranium enrichment or shipping highly enriched uranium out of the country.
The war began on February 28 with US and Israeli attacks; traffic through the Strait remains largely blocked, disrupting oil flows and pressuring global oil supplies. Araqchi briefed Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on an Iran-Oman understanding for safe shipping routes. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted two Houthi drones launched toward Riyadh and a missile aimed at Khamis Mushait. The UN children's agency reported rising acute malnutrition among children in Yemen.
