Despite public rhetoric and Washington’s initial dismissal of Tehran’s 7-day ceasefire plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said that negotiations via third-party mediators took place on Monday. The standoff between the United States and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz has entered a phase of backchannel maneuvers.
Iranian negotiators met with intermediaries in New York, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also confirrmed indirect talks via mediators, he said Tehran held further indirect talks with the United States through Qatari mediators in New York and was awaiting an official response from Washington, which he hoped would come by Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Araghchi said communicating Iran’s position on regional tensions and the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz had been a key focus of his visit during last week’s 81st United Nations General Assembly session. He said Tehran had presented what it considered a fair and logical plan to resolve the crisis and reopen the vital shipping route, provided specific conditions were met. He claimed Tehran had sought sanctions relief and access to “billions in frozen assets” before negotiations on its nuclear programme. He said Tehran remained ready for diplomacy while also preparing for the possibility of renewed hostilities. It is up to President Trump to choose,” Araghchi said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press”.
“We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed. We stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war. We don’t care about U.S. midterm elections. We care about our national interests. At the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy.
However, on Sunday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington had rejected the proposal.
