Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours if the United States agrees to its conditions, as President Donald Trump issued fresh threats against Tehran.
A senior Iranian official said the proposal to reopen the vital energy corridor followed intense diplomatic efforts to prevent a resumption of hostilities.
The official described the offer as a demonstration of Iran’s “good faith”.
Tehran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz since the war began in February, triggering a surge in energy prices and creating an electoral challenge for Trump.
The narrow waterway, which connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, normally carries about one-fifth of global oil consumption.
“The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran’s good-faith approach,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a briefing.
“We have stated that, if Iran’s demands are met, it would be possible to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and resume the negotiating process within a short period.”
In September, Iran proposed a seven-day plan to reopen the strait if Washington agreed to demands including ending the war on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian assets, lifting oil sanctions and ending its counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
Baqaei said messages were being exchanged with the United States through mediators, adding that “everything depends” on Washington accepting Tehran’s demands.
“Only then can we discuss the subsequent stages,” he said.
During final rallies ahead of the US midterm elections on Tuesday, Trump adopted a belligerent tone, warning Iran to expect “the hammer”.
Diesel prices and consumer inflation have emerged as key issues in the elections.
“The only reason why I’m not finished with Iran is I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can… But at some point we’re going to have to give them the hammer,” Trump told voters in Iowa.
Diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed war
Officials from Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have held talks with Iran in recent days, while US Vice President JD Vance sent a letter to Tehran.
Oman’s ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, also discussed the war with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing on Monday.
A statement from Oman’s Foreign Ministry said the two leaders called for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.
“The two sides called for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, urging the United States and Iran to pursue a peaceful path, achieve a ceasefire (and) prevent war entirely,” the statement said.
It also called for “dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible”.
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, told a senior Iranian official that Beijing supported Tehran in “safeguarding its own sovereignty and security”.
Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a statement from Beijing.
“All parties should… in a spirit of reason and pragmatism, focus on a political solution rather than once again resorting to armed conflict,” Wang was quoted as saying.
Bagheri told Wang that Tehran’s position on defending its national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity remained unchanged.
He added that Iran would make no compromises on those issues, according to Iranian state television.
Iran warns of ‘powerful response’
In an interview with Al Jazeera released on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington must accept a new route agreed between Iran and Oman for vessels transiting the strait.
He also said the United States must lift sanctions imposed in recent months and reduce its military presence in the region.
Washington has imposed a fresh round of sanctions since August as part of what it described as “economic asphyxiation” of Iran.
Trump’s latest threat follows repeated warnings from the United States and Israel, whose joint attack on Iran marked the beginning of the war on February 28.
On Saturday, Trump said he still had to “take care” of one or two targets, including Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran, which is suspected of being a nuclear site.
Tehran has denied that the site is a nuclear facility.
Baqaei warned that any renewed military action against Iran would trigger a strong response.
“Any act of aggression against Iran, any military attack against Iran, by whatever means, will be met with a powerful, immediate and comprehensive response from us,” he said.
At the US midterm elections, Democrats are expected to win at least partial control of Congress, potentially imposing political constraints on Trump for the first time in two years.
Iran warned on Sunday that any renewed conflict with the United States could last longer than the previous round of fighting.
Diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war have been repeatedly disrupted by threats from the United States and Israel to resume bombardments, as both countries face crucial elections .