Iran expects “definite position” from the US on plan to reopen Ormuz

Nsaturday, US President Donald Trump announced that he rejected Iran's seven-day plan to reopen the maritime passage through the Ormuz Strait, which is blocked by the war.

“ We saw the first reaction of the President of the United States, but we still haven’t received anything from mediators,” Iran’s chief of diplomacy, Abbas Araqchi, said hours later in a social media publication.

“ Of course, the President has said many good things, as well as many contradictory things, which, unfortunately, we often hear from him. We are waiting for the mediators to convey their definitive position,” Araqchi said.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs said that Tehran “never closed the door to diplomacy and negotiations” in the face of a situation that is, according to his words, “in an impasse”.

“There is no one in the world today who can accuse Iran of not trying the diplomatic route. We are in a higher political position in this regard”, said Araqchi.

“Only a negotiated solution can get them [the United States] out of this deadlock. This is our position. Many countries share this position with us and understand it,” the minister assured.

In addition, the diplomat maintained that the Islamic Republic stood firm whenever its “enemies decided to choose another way” than diplomacy.

On Friday, Araqchi announced from the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in New York that Tehran presented to Washington a seven-day plan to restore normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Ormuz.

The plan includes, among other measures, a seven-day ceasefire in the Middle East, lifting the US naval blockade against Iran, ending sanctions on Iranian oil and releasing frozen Iranian goods.

Later, Iran would agree to reopen the Strait of Ormuz and, on the seventh day, Tehran and Washington would resume negotiations for a final agreement, which would include the Iranian nuclear programme.

Araqchi explained that Tehran transmitted the proposal to Washington through Qatar, one of the mediators of the conflict, and suggested that it could move forward if “the American side took seriously the possibility of reaching an agreement.”.

“ They made a proposal, but I rejected it,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the White House Rose Garden before boarding a helicopter.

Despite the blockade of the strait, Trump stated that the US has “total control” of Ormuz and that “great quantities” of oil flow through the waterway every day, with 29 tankers passing by on Friday night for Saturday.

“ They want to make a deal, which is great, I like deals. But this agreement would not be acceptable,” the US head of state added.