Iran says it will reply to US response on Strait of Hormuz proposal once review ends

Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to Washington via intermediaries once the review ends, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference on Monday.

Mediators are working to end the war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.

What did Iran say about the US response to its Hormuz proposal?

Baghaei said Iran continues to exchange messages via intermediaries, without elaborating.

Iran’s security chief said on Sunday that Washington’s response did not sufficiently address Tehran’s seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to negotiations. Iran presented its proposal in mid-September and later confirmed receipt of a US response.

Why have talks between Iran and the US stalled?

Qatar and Pakistan, among others, have acted as mediators in efforts to end the war. After a June interim ceasefire crumbled and on-off strikes resumed, Iran presented its proposal. The process has since stalled.

A central point of disagreement has been Washington’s insistence on addressing Iran’s nuclear program from the outset.

Tehran says negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring security in the waterway. Before the war, the strait carried about a fifth of the global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

What did Iran say about the Saudi and Houthi conflict?

Regarding the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, an Iranian ally, Baghaei reiterated Tehran’s openness to help resolve the crisis through dialogue.

“The issue of Yemen should have been resolved a long time ago with the (UN) roadmap and we had said we would support any agreement reached by Yemenis and Saudis ... Our request is that this situation be resolved through dialogue.”