Iran rejects US reply on Hormuz terms and halts exchanges

The National reports that Iran sent its seven conditions to the US about two weeks ago, and that Washington has reached Tehran through three channels over the past two months: Pakistan, Qatar and Iraq. Rezaei said the US accepted some of the conditions while others remained unclear. According to a Reuters report published by the Jerusalem Post, Iran's proposal would allow the strait to reopen within seven days if the conditions were met; the US delivered its response through Qatari mediators.

According to The National, Iran proposed joint management of the strait with Oman. The US rejected this and insisted on free passage for ships under international law. Rezaei said managing the strait could yield economic returns beyond transit fees. Al Jazeera reports that while messages continue to pass through mediators, no breakthrough is expected before Israel's election on 27 October and the US midterms on 3 November.

Al Jazeera says US Vice President Vance stated last week that Iran must meaningfully reduce its enrichment capacity. Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said nuclear gains cannot be halted. In the eighth month of the war that began on 28 February, the two sides are split over whether the strait or the nuclear file comes first.