#IranProposesHormuzStraitReopeningTerms Iran Proposes Hormuz Strait Reopening Terms

Tehran Offers Three-Stage Plan to End Stalemate, but Nuclear Issue Remains Key Obstacle

As the conflict-ridden waters of the Persian Gulf continue to disrupt global oil supplies, Iran has formally submitted a new proposal to the United States regarding the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The offer, delivered through Pakistani mediators, outlines a phased approach to de-escalation that seeks to separate the issue of maritime security from the long-standing deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear program .

The proposal arrives amid a fragile ceasefire and follows two months of hostilities that began after the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran in late February . With approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum passing through the strait, the closure has driven global oil prices up by nearly 50%, exerting intense economic pressure on importing nations and raising the stakes for a diplomatic resolution .

Terms of the Proposal

According to reports from Axios and other international media outlets, the Iranian plan is structured in three distinct stages :

First Phase: Focuses on ending U.S.-Israeli "aggression" and securing guarantees against the resumption of hostilities against Iran and its allies. During this initial stage, Iran would postpone discussions on all other issues, including its nuclear activities .

Second Phase: Centered specifically on the management of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is seeking the establishment of a new legal framework governing the waterway, which would necessitate the lifting of the current U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports .

Third Phase: Addresses Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran has insisted this be the final item on the agenda, to be discussed only after agreements on the ceasefire and the strait are fully implemented .

General Reza Talaik, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Defense, reiterated the country’s security rationale on Tuesday, stating that "unhindered movement of the merchant fleet will be carried out if there is no threat to Iran's security" .

Washington’s Hesitation

Despite the diplomatic overture, the U.S. response has been cautious and largely skeptical. President Donald Trump discussed the proposal with his national security team on Monday, and preliminary reports suggest the White House is unhappy with the postponement of nuclear concessions .

Washington has long demanded that Tehran abandon its stockpile of enriched uranium as a prerequisite for any broader settlement. A U.S. official familiar with the matter told Reuters that Trump believes the nuclear issue must be addressed "from the outset," making the current sequencing a major sticking point . White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales stated that the administration would "not negotiate through the press," reaffirming that the President’s "red lines" remain clear .

International Reactions and Economic Fallout

The blockage of the strait has drawn international concern, not just for security reasons but for its crippling economic effect. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the Security Council on Monday, urging all parties to facilitate the immediate reopening of the waterway .

In a significant diplomatic boost for Tehran, Russia has openly defended Iran’s actions. Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, argued that a nation under attack has the legal right to restrict navigation in its territorial waters. Nebenzia further accused Western nations of hypocrisy, comparing their enforcement of sanctions to "piracy" .

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to strain global supply chains. Beyond fuel, the crisis has driven up the costs of food and fertilizer, threatening economic stability in developing nations reliant on affordable energy imports . As negotiations remain stalled, the risk of a prolonged confrontation looms, with both sides apparently unwilling to compromise on the core issues of nuclear enrichment and maritime control.