Iran says Hormuz could reopen within two days if US meets its demands

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that Iran could restore security to the Strait of Hormuz within a short period if its demands are met, according to Daily Sabah.

"We have stated that, if Iran's demands are met, it would be possible to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and resume the negotiating process within a short period," Daily Sabah quoted him as saying.

He described implementation within two days as possible. "The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran's good-faith approach," he said, according to the outlet.

Among the reports reviewed by Vocemundi, only Daily Sabah carries these remarks. It does not state how it obtained them.

Talks in Doha

Iranian negotiators have left talks with Qatari mediators in Doha, according to an official briefed on the talks, cited by Reuters. Daily Sabah credits the same official to Reuters, so both accounts trace to a single source. The official's identity is not given.

The official said a draft proposal to end the war between Iran and the United States is being circulated. A follow-up meeting is possible, the official said. According to Daily Sabah, the official said the departure was not due to difficulties in the talks. Daily Sabah reports that the negotiators left Doha on Sunday.

The reports do not describe the contents of the draft, who wrote it, or who has received it. They include no response from the US government or from Qatar.

Background

According to Daily Sabah, Iran sent a seven-step proposal to Washington through Qatar in September. It envisaged reopening the strait on the sixth day of a seven-day process. President Donald Trump rejected it, the outlet reported.

Since the war began in late February, Iran has claimed control over Hormuz and regularly targeted vessels crossing without its authorization, according to Daily Sabah. Washington responded with a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Since August, the US has imposed new sanctions, which it described as part of the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran, the outlet reported.

What is disputed

Daily Sabah describes Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran as a suspected nuclear site that Trump named as a remaining target. Tehran denies it is a nuclear facility.

What each side says

• Iran: Baghaei said the talks are based on the September proposal, which could now move faster. "No final agreement can be initiated, nor can the Strait of Hormuz be reopened or secured, unless the U.S. naval blockade is brought to an end," he said, according to Daily Sabah. Iran's conditions include ending the war on all fronts, unfreezing assets abroad and lifting oil sanctions.
• Iran: In an interview with Al Jazeera, according to Daily Sabah, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington must accept a new transit route agreed by Iran and Oman, lift recent sanctions and reduce US troop numbers in the region.
• Iran: "Any act of aggression against Iran, any military attack against Iran, by whatever means, will be met with a powerful, immediate and comprehensive response from us," Baghaei said, according to Daily Sabah.
• United States: Trump has said Washington would not launch new attacks before the US midterm elections and has called the talks productive, according to Daily Sabah. On Saturday, he said he still had to deal with one or two targets, including Pickaxe Mountain.

Analysis

The reports point to active diplomacy, but key elements rest on limited sourcing. The draft proposal comes from one unnamed official, and Iran's two-day offer appears in one outlet. Several paths remain possible. If Washington engages with the draft, a follow-up meeting in Doha could test whether the gap on the blockade and sanctions can narrow. If either side holds to its stated conditions, talks could stall. Trump's mention of remaining targets and Iran's warning of retaliation show military risk persists alongside the talks. Without US or Qatari statements, the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not show how close the parties are.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.