Iran says its revised plan would take two days to implement after Washington meets Tehran’s demands, keeping shipping access central to negotiations with the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Oct. 31 that Qatari mediators had suggested shortening the implementation period. He described a proposed timetable; he did not say the Strait of Hormuz had reopened.
Araghchi said Iran wants sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum lifted, oil waivers restored, frozen Iranian funds released and U.S. forces reduced in the region. Tehran also seeks recognition of shipping routes discussed with Oman. Al Jazeera’s Nov. 1 reporting added Iranian demands to close other shipping routes and end fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Araghchi said an Iranian delegation had gone to Doha. He described continuing consultations involving Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Iran’s conditions and said a meeting with U.S. officials was not planned at that stage.
The two governments also differ over what should come first. Al Jazeera reported Washington wants progress on Iran’s nuclear program before making concessions. Iran analyst Hamidreza Azizi told the outlet each side was positioning the other to move first.
The Associated Press reported in September that an earlier Iranian proposal set a seven-day period for reopening the strait and resuming nuclear talks if the United States met Tehran’s conditions. That proposal also called for the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports to be lifted and sanctions on Iranian oil sales to be waived, AP reported. The outlet described shipping disruption as a source of leverage for Tehran, with effects extending beyond the Middle East.
At an Oct. 31 event at Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump said negotiations were going fine but called Iran “not very reliable.” He said one or two sites remained that he could “take care of” in 10 minutes and referred to Pickaxe Mountain. His remarks did not announce a new strike order or set a military timetable.
Araghchi said Iran was “prepared for all scenarios” and that its forces were at the “highest level of readiness.” Al Jazeera reported that Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Washington had signaled it was ready to accept Tehran’s terms; the outlet said the U.S. had not confirmed his account. Al Jazeera also reported Trump had raised the possibility of renewed attacks after the U.S. midterm elections, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. His Oct. 31 remarks did not set a date for military action.
