Iran seeks to revive stalled ceasefire talks at UN General Assembly; direct Trump-Pezeshkian meeting ruled out

Ships navigate the Strait of Hormuz. [Reuters]
Ships navigate the Strait of Hormuz. [Reuters]

Iran has put forward an offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases its military pressure, in a bid to revive stalled ceasefire negotiations, Reuters and Kyodo News reported Tuesday (local time).

A senior Iranian government official told Kyodo News that Iran had conveyed the proposal to Washington, offering to reopen the strait within a week should the US take initial steps to reduce its military pressure.

The move signals that Iran intends to intensify its diplomatic efforts to restart dialogue with the United States.

According to the official, the proposal — already transmitted to Washington through intermediary countries — called for resuming talks aimed at permanently ending hostilities between the two countries.

Iran plans to hold related consultations with mediating countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, which is taking place in New York this week.

The official shrugged off the possibility of a direct meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump at the General Assembly, but said the prospect of progress toward a bilateral agreement remained open.

"The possibility of moving toward an agreement exists," the official said. "For diplomatic progress to be made, the US side must demonstrate sincerity and a willingness to follow through on its commitments."

Reuters also reported Tuesday, citing a senior Iranian official in a dispatch from New York, that Iran had communicated through intermediaries on Sept. 16 its readiness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, on the condition that the US ease its military pressure and lift its blockade of Iranian ports.

The proposal also requires the US to formally declare its intention to resolve the matter diplomatically and to agree on a roadmap for how the process would proceed, the official added.

The official similarly ruled out any direct contact between the two countries' leaders. However, he said an Iranian delegation "fully authorized to restore diplomacy with the United States is currently in New York" for the General Assembly, and that "the details of an agreement to end hostilities can be discussed in New York through mediators."

Before departing for the General Assembly, Pezeshkian said in an interview with state television that he would "strongly articulate Iran's position on the international stage."

"At this General Assembly, I will focus on raising the injustices suffered by the Iranian people, the crimes that have been committed, and the distrust that has been created in the international community," he said.

Pezeshkian added that Iran's enemies were "trying to block every channel to force the Iranian people into submission" and, having "failed to achieve their goals through military means, are now trying to weaken us from within." He vowed that Iran would "frustrate their schemes through unity and solidarity."


mokiya@heraldcorp.com