Mediation Push Continues on reopening Strait of Hormuz and easing US‑Iran tensions

• Talks between Iran and the U.S. are mediated by Qatar
• The goal is to end fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz

CAIRO: Three officials told The Associated Press that mediators are still working with Iran and the United States on a deal to end the fighting and open the Strait of Hormuz, with indirect talks expected to resume on Monday.

The disclosure comes as the conflict enters its eighth month, inflicting extensive economic hardship. Previous attempts to secure safe navigation through the strategic waterway have failed.

Uncertainty arose over the weekend after President Donald Trump told reporters that he had rejected Tehran’s latest proposal, which envisioned a week‑long reopening of the strait if the U.S. lifted its blockade of Iranian ports, unfroze assets and waived oil sanctions, among other conditions.

Iran’s foreign minister, however, remained in New York and said he was awaiting word from the mediators. Qatar has been handling the mediation.

The proposed agreement would first reopen the strait and lift the U.S. blockade.

Two of the officials confirmed on Monday that mediators are now drafting a proposal that would reopen the strait, lift the U.S. blockade and subsequently remove sanctions.

According to the draft, the strait’s reopening would be coordinated with a separate arrangement Iran is discussing with Oman, the country on the strait’s opposite shore. The arrangement would impose no tolls—a key Iranian demand—and would temporarily manage shipping on what was previously considered an international waterway.

The officials also noted that despite Trump’s public rejection, the United States has not formally disavowed the current proposal, suggesting his comments may have been a negotiating tactic.

A third official said the U.S. is seeking concessions from Iran on its nuclear program, including allowing inspectors back into the country. Under a June memorandum that collapsed within days, the two sides were to discuss the program over a 60‑day period.

All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the behind‑the‑scenes diplomatic talks.

One official reported positive signals from both sides, while a second noted “slight progress” over the weekend. The third said mediators are still striving to “soften” the positions of both parties.

The White House has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Iran’s most recent proposal calls for a faster implementation timeline.

While echoing the June deal, the new proposal differs mainly in its accelerated schedule.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a closed‑door session on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly that Tehran framed the deal as advantageous for Trump’s midterm election prospects. He later told reporters that “the seven‑day timeline will start as soon as the United States accepts this plan.”

Both nations are suffering economically: the U.S. from high oil prices caused by Iranian attacks on strait traffic, and Iran from the naval blockade and expanding sanctions that curb its oil exports. Brent crude is trading above $108.

For months the two sides have sought to outlast each other, while regional countries endure missile and drone strikes as Tehran claims to target U.S. military assets in the area.

Reflecting Iran’s impatience, a rare statement attributed to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on Monday highlighted “painful blows” inflicted on enemy forces near the strait. “Before long, the Arabian Sea, too, will be rid of them,” the statement added.

The latest draft also aims to end fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, a new front has opened in recent weeks as Iran‑backed rebels in Yemen occupy the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a critical Red Sea choke point, adding further pressure on global markets.

Iran contends that the Houthis have separate demands and that their conflict with Saudi Arabia is distinct from the U.S.–Iran war, but Iranian officials say they are willing to assist in brokering a settlement between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, one official noted.

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