Iran’s 7-day Hormuz offer to the US: “Not to surrender” – What does Tehran want in return for reopening the strait? | Today’s news
US-Iran War: Iran has reportedly offered to open the Starit of Hormuz within the next seven days, albeit with a rider. In a diplomatic push, Tehran has told Washington DC that it will open a key trade route if the US starts easing military pressure, according to a Kyodo News report. Citing a senior Iranian official, the report said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the offer.
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Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf chanted that diplomacy should turn military power into political gains, as he said Iran would resist military, economic and media pressure from its enemies. “Diplomacy is not surrender. It is about turning battlefield power into political gains,” Ghalibaf said at a ceremony in Tehran.
Iran offers to open Hormuz in the next seven days
Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States begins to ease military pressure.
The proposal was conveyed to Washington through intermediaries and calls for renewed negotiations aimed at a permanent end to hostilities.
Read also | Like the Iran War, the closure of the Straits of Hormuz forced Qatar to turn to American gas
Tehran plans to consult mediating countries during the UN General Assembly, although an official ruled out a meeting between Presidents Masoud Pezeshkian and Donald Trump.
A senior Iranian official said the initiative was reportedly approved by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council. Iran is seeking an end to the blockade of its ports and US military operations related to the strait, the official said.
“Trump faces a historic civilization”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, sounding bullish on Iran’s stance on the war, said the talks were also a form of confrontation and that Tehran would not bow to pressure from US President Donald Trump.
“Trump faces historic civilization and national and religious opposition,” he said, adding that the US president cannot impose his power on Iran or its armed forces.
Sohar port bypasses the Strait of Hormuz?
Trade in the Persian Gulf has long been centered on major ports such as Jebel Ali, Khalifa, Dammam, Hamad and Salalah. However, the US-Iran war over the Strait of Hormuz is prompting a rethink, with Oman’s Sohar port emerging as a key alternative gateway, particularly for India.
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Located in the Gulf of Oman and outside the narrowest part of the Strait of Hormuz, Sohar offers shippers another route to move cargo by sea and road into the Gulf.
A planned rail link to the UAE could further strengthen its role. The port is attracting interest from Indian logistics firms, manufacturers and exporters, while Saudi Arabia also uses ship-to-ship transfers off the Oman coast to keep oil flowing to Asian buyers.
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter?
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy choke points, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea.
Its importance lies in the sheer volume of energy that passes through this narrow waterway: in the first half of 2025, about 20.9 million barrels of oil per day moved through Hormuz, equivalent to roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption, while more than one-fifth of global LNG trade also passed through the strait.
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There are alternative gas pipelines through Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but they can only replace part of the sea flows.
This makes any sustained disruption in Hormuz a global supply problem with the potential to increase oil prices, shipping costs and ultimately inflation. Asian economies, including India, China, Japan and South Korea, are particularly exposed as most of the oil and LNG flowing through Hormuz is destined for Asian markets.
The Iran war turned this structural vulnerability into an imminent market risk. Since the start of the conflict on February 28, 2026, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted.
Reuters reported on September 22 that only two vessels passed through the strait on Monday, compared with around 125 large commercial vessels the day before the conflict.
