Iran says the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within two days under a new plan worked out with Qatari mediators, but only if the United States accepts a list of conditions set by Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the talks have cut the time needed to implement Iran’s proposal. “The Qatari side proposed shortening the implementation period of the Iranian proposal to five days. We have reached a proposal at this stage that reduces the implementation period to two days,” he said.
Iran’s Conditions for Reopening Hormuz
The two-day timeline is not a done deal. Araghchi made it clear that the strait will reopen only in line with Iran’s demands. These include:
- Lifting the sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum
- Reducing US forces in the region
- Restoring waivers that allowed Iran to sell oil
- Releasing all frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar
- Recognising the shipping routes Iran has discussed with Oman and closing all other routes through the strait
“Reopening the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with our conditions paves the way for the resumption of negotiations with Washington regarding outstanding issues,” Araghchi said.
The last condition means that even after a reopening, ships would only be able to use the routes agreed between Iran and Oman, rather than the strait as a whole.
Signs of a Shift Between Washington and Tehran
The proposal comes as both sides appear to be softening their tone. Araghchi described a US offer of dialogue as “a positive step”, while an Iranian delegation is in Doha for further talks with Qatari officials.
Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei also said he had reviewed a letter from US Vice President JD Vance in which Washington’s “tone has changed completely.” He called the shift “a very positive sign.”
There has been no public response from the US to the two-day plan so far. Iran had earlier put forward a longer, seven-day plan to reopen the strait in exchange for its demands.
This is not the first time hopes of a reopening have been raised. In August, Iran rejected claims that it was reopening Hormuz after an announcement by US President Donald Trump.
What This Means for You
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil routes, and its closure has kept global oil and gas prices high for months. Pakistan imports most of its oil and LNG through the Gulf, so any disruption there quickly shows up in fuel prices at home.
Right now, petrol costs Rs. 377.91 per litre and high-speed diesel costs Rs. 402.96 per litre, according to the latest government notification. A motorist using 40 litres of petrol a month currently spends about Rs. 15,116 on fuel. Every Rs. 10 per litre change in the petrol price adds or cuts about Rs. 400 from that monthly bill.
Since the government now revises fuel prices much more often, a confirmed reopening of Hormuz and a fall in global oil prices could reach Pakistani pumps faster than before.
But until Washington responds to Iran’s conditions, the two-day plan remains only a proposal, and relief at the pump is not guaranteed. Pakistan has already struggled to offer petrol discounts during the crisis.
What Happens Next
Iran says the strait would reopen within two days once its conditions are accepted, and that this would open the door to wider negotiations with the US. Proposals related to Iran’s nuclear programme are expected to be dealt with separately, after the strait reopens and talks with Washington resume.
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