Reports: Iran could reopen Strait of Hormuz within a week if U.S. lifts blockade
by Mike Glenn · The Washington TimesIran said it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ship traffic within a week if the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iranian ports and eases military pressure against the regime, according to media reports.
The offer is part of Tehran’s efforts to revive negotiations with Washington and reach a permanent end to hostilities between the U.S. and Iran, Japan’s Kyodo News Agency and Reuters reported Tuesday, citing unidentified Iranian officials.
Tehran will consult with other countries acting as intermediaries between Iran and the U.S. during the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week. But, the Iranian officials ruled out a meeting between President Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Still, an Iranian official told the Kyodo News Agency that progress toward a lasting agreement remains possible, but Washington must demonstrate “seriousness and commitment” if diplomacy is to succeed.
Mr. Pezeshkian was less optimistic before departing for the General Assembly. He told reporters at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport that the “banner of trust” between both nations is largely absent because the U.S. disregards human rights.
“They blatantly violate many of the international legal frameworks governing individuals and nations, simply because they possess the power to impose their will through force,” he said, according to Iran’s state-owned Mehr News Agency.
Mr. Pezeshkian said Iran’s U.N. delegation will engage in a dialogue with politicians, cultural institutions and the media from several countries.
“Attending the U.N. General Assembly is an opportunity for us to convey our positions, the injustices we have endured, and our strength to the world,” he said.
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