Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has put forward a proposal to the Trump administration to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume broader peace negotiations within seven days, according to The Washington Post. Araghchi disclosed the initiative on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 25 September 2026, marking what could be the most concrete diplomatic opening since months of conflict pushed one of the world's most critical energy corridors to near-closure.

The Proposal and Its Terms

Araghchi said the offer was conveyed to US officials through intermediaries during indirect talks held this week. He described the conditions as consistent with a memorandum of understanding reached between the two countries in June. 'The conditions we asked are nothing new,' Araghchi told reporters. The proposal combines two immediate priorities: restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and reopening negotiations toward a wider settlement. It remained unclear, however, whether the seven-day process would address nuclear questions — the central sticking point in any comprehensive agreement. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters

Between one-fifth and one-quarter of global oil supplies ordinarily transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iran mined the waterway and warned ships against passage without coordinating with Tehran after Israel and the United States struck Iran in late February. Shipping traffic subsequently slowed to a trickle, contributing to higher energy prices worldwide. The near-closure has reverberated through global commodity markets, making any pathway to reopening the channel a matter of international economic consequence.

Trump's Warning and Iran's Response

President Donald Trump acknowledged the diplomatic contact during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, but framed it in stark terms — warning that Iran could either reach a deal or face 'annihilation'. Members of the Iranian delegation walked out during his speech. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded in his own General Assembly address on Wednesday, arguing that Iran needed sufficient strength to deter external threats. 'Iran must be powerful so as to avoid being threatened, to avoid its future being threatened,' Pezeshkian said. He added: 'We are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force.'

The Nuclear Impasse

Trump has stated that the United States entered the conflict alongside Israel to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Pezeshkian, however, maintained that Iran would not pursue nuclear arms, asserting the country's right to develop 'peaceful nuclear technologies'. Washington has demanded binding safeguards to ensure Tehran cannot weaponise its nuclear programme, while Iranian officials insist they must be permitted to maintain a civilian nuclear capability. This divergence remains one of the deepest obstacles to any lasting settlement. Tehran's interpretation of the June memorandum of understanding — which it reads as recognising Iranian control over the Strait — has also been rejected by the United States and its regional partners, complicating the diplomatic ground further.

What Comes Next

The seven-day window, if accepted, would represent the most accelerated diplomatic timeline since hostilities began. Whether Washington will formally engage the proposal remains uncertain. Araghchi's decision to disclose the offer publicly — rather than through back-channel silence — signals that Tehran is seeking to build international pressure for a negotiated exit. All eyes will now turn to any formal US response, as well as the reactions of regional stakeholders and key energy-importing nations for whom the Strait's closure carries direct economic costs.