Iran offers seven-day plan to end conflict, reopen Strait of Hormuz and restart nuclear talks

Iran has proposed a sevenday plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in West Asia reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting negotiations over its nuclear programme Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said according to a report by The New York TimesAraghchi said the proposal had been conveyed to the United States through intermediaries and was similar to the memorandum of understanding reached between Tehran and Washington in June The proposal comes as the conflict enters its seventh month and diplomatic efforts to establish a broader settlement remain uncertainAraghchi says Hormuz could reopen after seven daysSpeaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly Araghchi said Iran was prepared to take steps towards reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz if certain conditions were metldquoWe have introduced a plan to the United States through the intermediators that if certain conditions are met the Strait of Hormuz would be open on the end of the seventh day and talks would restartit would be better if a deal was reached before the US midterm electionsrdquo he was quoted as saying by The New York TimesThe Strait of Hormuz is a key global shipping route through which a significant share of the worlds oil and gas supplies passes Its status has become a major issue in the conflict with restrictions on maritime traffic affecting regional trade and energy marketsIran links proposal to broader nuclear negotiationsAraghchi said the proposed arrangement would pave the way for comprehensive discussions on Iranrsquos nuclear programme after the reopening of the waterwayThe Iranian foreign minister has repeatedly maintained that Tehran is prepared to pursue diplomacy over its nuclear activities Iran has also rejected allegations that its nuclear programme is intended to produce nuclear weaponsThe proposal follows an earlier USIran memorandum of understanding signed in June which established a framework for ending hostilities and negotiating a broader agreement The June arrangement included provisions related to the Strait of Hormuz sanctions and Irans nuclear programmeAraghchi discusses diplomacy with German foreign ministerEarlier during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul Araghchi said Iran had communicated what it described as reasonable conditions and requirements for advancing diplomatic effortsHe said restoring security in the region required an end to what Tehran described as US interventionist and aggressive actions against IranAraghchi also reiterated Irans position that diplomacy remained the preferred route for addressing questions surrounding its peaceful nuclear programme He argued that Irans stated willingness to negotiate should be taken into account while accusing the US and Israel of military action against Iran during the negotiating processThe Iranian foreign minister also criticised European countries including Germany for what he described as their failure to respond adequately to US violations of international lawHe said restoring confidence in the United Nations required countries to adhere to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international lawPezeshkian blames US for collapse of June agreementMeanwhile Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed the United States for the failure to implement the agreement reached between the two countries in JuneIn an interview with Fox News Pezeshkian said Tehran remained prepared to revive the framework negotiated with WashingtonldquoWe did reach an agreement with your president that agreement was signed and based on that we are willing and still wish to move forward And the framework was agreed upon We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz it was open without any legal justification or frameworkThey attacked us They assassinated and martyred our esteemed supreme leader our scientists are military commanders and government The problem is that America instead of conducting dialogue they descend into the arena by bombing us first by blocking every pathway We are readyrdquo he told Fox NewsPezeshkian also said Iran was willing to allow international verification of its nuclear activities as part of a potential agreement In the interview he said Tehran was prepared to dilute its enriched uranium and permit verificationIran says it remains ready for negotiationsPezeshkian said Tehran did not seek a continuation of the war and maintained that Iran was prepared to negotiate if the United States was willing to return to a diplomatic frameworkThe Iranian president also rejected the suggestion that Tehran was seeking nuclear weapons and said Iran was prepared to accept international verification of its nuclear activitiesWith inputs from ANI