Iran says it will reply to US response on Hormuz once review is over

Iran to react to US response on Hormuz

DUBAI – Iran is still reviewing a US response to its proposal regarding the reopening ​of the Strait of Hormuz and will reply to ‌Washington via intermediaries when the review is over, foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

Baghaei also told a press conference that Iran continues ​to exchange messages via intermediaries, without elaborating. Qatar and ​Pakistan, among others, have acted as mediators in efforts ⁠to end the war that began with US and Israeli strikes ​on Iran on February 28.

After a June interim ceasefire crumbled and on-off ​strikes resumed, Iran presented its proposal in mid-September and later confirmed receipt of a US response. But the process has since stalled, with Iran’s security ​chief saying on Sunday that Washington’s response did not sufficiently ​address Tehran’s seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to negotiations.

A ‌central ⁠point of disagreement has been Washington’s insistence on addressing Iran’s nuclear programme from the outset. Tehran says negotiations should initially focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried about ​a fifth of ​the global trade tin oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and restoring security in the waterway.

Regarding the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthis, an Iranian ally, Baghaei reiterated Tehran’s ⁠openness to help resolve the crisis through dialogue.

“The issue of Yemen should have been resolved a long time ago with the (UN) roadmap Rand we had said we would support any agreement reached by Yemenis and Saudis … Our request is that this situation be resolved through dialogue.”

Credit: Reuters