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United Nations: Iran has offered to reopen Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear programme in seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire that would include Lebanon.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi detailed the proposal to reporters outside the UN Security Council on Friday (September 25), saying it would also restart stalled talks with the US on Iran’s nuclear programme.

“The seven-day timeline will start as soon as the United States accepts this plan,” he said.

Araghchi said initial steps would take about four to five days to complete, and the strait would be open on the sixth day. “And on day seven, the talks with the US will be started for the final deal on mutually agreed subjects,” he said, referring to the nuclear programme.

Iran’s disruption of the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas transited before the war, has emerged as its main point of leverage. The effects have been felt far beyond West Asia and posed political problems for US President Donald Trump and his Republican Party ahead of November’s midterm congressional elections.

The White House said only that US officials are having positive and constructive conversations with mediators on the Iran war. In response to questions, it said the US is facilitating significant oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

There was no immediate comment on the proposal from Gulf Arab nations, although a person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, told Associated Press that Saudi Arabia was........

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