Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tied full shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz to U.S. acceptance of Tehran’s terms, with regional crude supplies already affected, Gulf News reported.
Araghchi made the remarks in an Oct. 20 interview with Iraq’s Al Ekhbariya television. He described a seven-day initiative that would restore full passage on its sixth day if Washington accepted Iran’s conditions. He portrayed the U.S. position as acceptance of those conditions paired with a request to add provisions.
Indirect talks between Iran and the United States are continuing through Pakistan and Qatar, Araghchi said. He said Tehran would not take up other issues until Washington carried out its obligations under the Islamabad memorandum.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimated that Hormuz-related Middle Eastern crude production shut-ins averaged 4.8 million barrels per day in September.
Araghchi said further rounds aimed at reaching a final agreement would follow the strait’s reopening.
