New Delhi: Iran has said the United States’ response to its proposal to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz is ‘insufficient’, signalling
that efforts to restore normal shipping through the waterway remain unresolved.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Washington had accepted some of Tehran’s seven conditions but had left others unclear. Iran submitted the proposal during the United Nations General Assembly, offering to restore normal maritime passage through the strait within seven days if its conditions were met.
The United States responded through Qatari intermediaries. However, Rezaei said Washington needed to clarify the outstanding issues before further progress could be made.
“We presented seven conditions to the Americans and clearly stated that the Strait of Hormuz would not be opened to them, and no negotiations would take place, until these conditions are met,” Rezaei was quoted as saying by Iranian state media.
He also said Tehran was no longer in the process of responding to Washington, indicating that Iran was waiting for the unresolved issues to be addressed.
Hormuz remains central to efforts to end Gulf conflict
The latest exchange comes amid diplomatic efforts to end the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which began in late February. Qatar and other mediators have been facilitating communication between Washington and Tehran in an attempt to reduce tensions and restore shipping through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. Before the conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the waterway, making disruptions there a major concern for energy markets and international trade.
Iran had said in late September that it had received a US response to its latest proposal aimed at reviving a ceasefire in the Gulf. This followed US President Donald Trump’s statement that he had rejected an earlier proposal.
The latest disagreement over the seven conditions highlights the continuing gap between the two sides. With Tehran insisting that its demands be addressed before the strait is reopened and negotiations proceed, the prospect of restoring normal maritime traffic remains uncertain.
