Iran has urged Washington to consider a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for a duration of seven days and to cease hostilities in the region. This diplomatic initiative coincides with discussions between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The situation has raised concerns over oil shipments from this crucial waterway, which is vital for global energy supply chains.

During their summit, President Xi reportedly called on both the United States and Iran to revisit a framework agreement established in June that had yielded a brief ceasefire. Furthermore, he emphasised the need to resume negotiations aimed at achieving a more comprehensive resolution to the conflict, as reported by China’s state news agency, Xinhua.

In a parallel context, US Ambassador to China, David Perdue, indicated that Trump had warned Xi against any support for Iran, claiming that China had assured the US it would refrain from backing Tehran. These diplomatic exchanges occurred while Iran and the US engaged in indirect talks mediated by Qatar at the UN General Assembly.

Details of Iran’s Proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that Tehran has submitted a “concrete seven-day plan” to Washington through Qatari channels. According to Araghchi, the plan stipulates that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened and normal maritime traffic restored within one week, pending the US’s acceptance of the proposal.

He stated that the timeline would start once the necessary conditions were agreed upon. Under the terms of this plan, Iran would halt hostilities throughout the region, which includes a cease in Lebanon. In return, Tehran seeks the lifting of the US blockade on its ports, the release of its frozen financial assets, and waivers on oil sanctions. An anonymous US official noted that discussions are ongoing through mediators and that nuclear issues remain a topic.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian figure asserted that their nuclear programme is non-negotiable. This official emphasised that Iran would maintain its right to uranium enrichment and would not agree to transfer its highly enriched uranium out of the country. Trump has consistently maintained that efforts must be made to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Escalation of Regional Conflicts

The seven-day initiative follows unsuccessful diplomatic attempts to resolve the conflict that has been ongoing since February 28, when US and Israeli military actions commenced. The fighting has resulted in substantial casualties, while Iran’s military capabilities and economic stability have deteriorated significantly. In addition to direct engagements, Iran and allied groups have expanded their activities throughout the region.

Ballistic missiles and drones attributed to Iran have been launched against US allies in the Gulf, and the Houthi movement in Yemen has targeted Saudi assets. Furthermore, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have been implicated in an attack on a pipeline that disrupted oil supplies from Saudi Arabia. The Iran-aligned group Hezbollah continues to confront Israeli forces in Lebanon, as tensions escalate and conflict spreads across neighbouring territories.

In response to the conflict’s expansion, Saudi Arabia and its allies have been bolstering their defence strategies. On Friday, defence representatives from Turkey and Pakistan convened in Riyadh to evaluate the security landscape and explore enhanced military coordination, intelligence sharing, and the integration of defence capabilities. This meeting involved high-ranking officials from all three nations, including Turkey’s Chief of General Staff and his Saudi and Pakistani counterparts.

This bilateral dialogue follows discussions among the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey that took place a day prior under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement. Meanwhile, the ongoing violence in Yemen has led to a deteriorating humanitarian situation, with UNICEF raising alarms about increasing levels of acute malnutrition among children in the region.

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