Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday, 18 October 2026, that Tehran's proposed seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remains 'still on the table,' signalling that diplomatic options have not been exhausted despite escalating military tensions between Iran and the United States. The remarks came as Washington claimed it had already destroyed Tehran's nuclear weapons capability through direct military strikes.

What the Seven-Day Plan Entails

Araghchi outlined the proposal while speaking on the sidelines of the 52nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Under the plan, Iran has submitted specific conditions to the United States, and Araghchi said those conditions are 'completely clear.'

'Iran's plan is still on the table,' he stated. 'If they meet those conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened on the sixth day, and negotiations will resume on the seventh.'

He insisted that Tehran's conditions were 'neither extraordinary nor unusual,' characterising them as commitments 'the United States had already committed itself in the peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) and other negotiations.' Washington has reportedly submitted its views on the proposal, which Tehran is currently reviewing, according to Araghchi.

Iran's Dual-Track Stance: Diplomacy and Defence

Araghchi struck a firm but measured tone, emphasising that Iran 'will not bow to threats' and is fully prepared to defend itself — while simultaneously remaining open to diplomatic engagement. The dual-track posture reflects Tehran's broader strategic calculation: keeping a negotiated off-ramp available without conceding leverage under military pressure.

Notably, the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most strategically critical waterways, through which an estimated 20% of global oil supplies transit daily. Any prolonged closure would carry severe consequences for energy markets and global supply chains, affecting economies well beyond the immediate conflict zone.

Trump Claims Iran's Nuclear Capability 'Destroyed'

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump presented a starkly different picture of the situation. Addressing a Republican election rally at Northern Kentucky University's Truist Arena on Saturday, Trump declared that American military operations had successfully 'destroyed' Iran's nuclear weapons capability, framing the campaign as one of the defining national security achievements of his second presidency.

'They cannot have a nuclear weapon. They can't because they'll use it,' Trump told supporters, defending his decision to authorise the strikes. He added that the United States had targeted Iran's nuclear infrastructure and was taking active steps to ensure the programme could not be revived: 'We have to make sure it doesn't come back.'

The remarks represent the most direct public characterisation by the US President of the military operation's objectives and claimed outcomes to date.

Geopolitical Stakes and What Comes Next

The simultaneous signals from Tehran and Washington — one proposing a phased diplomatic resolution, the other claiming military objectives already achieved — underscore the volatile and ambiguous nature of the current standoff. This comes amid broader regional anxieties, with the OIC summit in Baghdad providing a multilateral backdrop against which Iran is actively lobbying for diplomatic support.

The coming days will be critical: Tehran's review of Washington's response to the seven-day plan is ongoing, and whether the US meets Iran's stated conditions will determine whether the Strait reopens through negotiation or remains a flashpoint of sustained confrontation.