Iran offers to open the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifts the blockade and ends the war, officials say

CAIRO (AP) — Iran has offered to end its control over the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade and ending the war, a proposal that would postpone discussions over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, two regional officials with knowledge of the matter said Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept the offer, which was relayed to the Americans by Pakistan and would leave unresolved the disagreements that led the United States and Israel to war on February 28. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump's national security team met Monday and was discussing Iran's proposal. But she offered no details about the discussion or how the proposal was received. She said Trump would address it later. With a ceasefire still in place, the United States and Iran are deadlocked over the strait, through which, in peacetime, about one-fifth of the world's traded oil and gas passes. The US blockade is designed to prevent Iran from selling its oil, depriving it of crucial revenue and potentially creating a situation where Tehran has nowhere to store the oil and therefore has to shut down production. But the closure of the strait has put pressure on Trump, as oil and gasoline prices have surged ahead of the crucial midterm elections, and has put pressure on his Persian Gulf allies, who use the waterway to export their oil and gas. Frustration is growing among many nations, and on Monday there were renewed calls to end the blockade, which has had far-reaching effects on the global economy, including driving up the price of fertilizers, food, and other commodities. The proposal would postpone negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program to a later date. Trump said that one of the main reasons he went to war was to deny Iran the ability to develop nuclear weapons. The two officials, who were aware of the proposal, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door negotiations between Iranian and Pakistani officials this weekend. The news outlet Axios first reported on Iran's proposal. The offer came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was visiting Russia, which has been a key backer of Tehran. It was unclear what assistance, if any, Moscow might now offer. Iran's ability to stifle traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has proven to be one of its greatest strategic advantages in a war that has often boiled down to which side can endure more hardship. Oil prices have risen steadily since the war began, and tankers laden with crude have been stranded in the Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit the strait and reach global distribution hubs. On Monday, the spot price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, was trading at around $109 a barrel, almost 50% higher than when the war began. Dozens of nations reiterated calls to reopen the critical shipping lane in a joint statement led by Bahrain. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Monday that the humanitarian cost is mounting. "These pressures are resulting in empty fuel tanks, empty shelves, and empty plates," he said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the United States on Monday for entering the war without a strategy. "The problem with conflicts like these is always the same: it's not just about getting in. You also have to get out," Merz said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot lashed out at all sides. He noted that the crisis began after the United States and Israel attacked Iran without clear targets "in a manner that violates international law." But he said Iran is responsible for closing the straits. "The straits are the arteries of the world. They are not owned by any individual. They are not for sale, therefore they cannot be obstructed by any kind of barrier, toll, or bribe," he asserted. Last week, Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire that the United States and Iran agreed to on April 7, which has largely halted the fighting. But a permanent settlement remains elusive. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Monday, the Russian state news agency TASS reported. Putin praised the Iranian people for "fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty" and indicated that Russia will do everything possible to bring peace to the Middle East, TASS reported. Araghchi told a reporter from Russian state television that the United States and its leaders "have not achieved any of their objectives" in the war. "That is why they are calling for negotiations," he said. "Now we are considering it." The top Iranian diplomat indicated that Iran and Russia "are strategic partners" and that their "cooperation would continue." The meeting came as Pakistan has been trying to revive talks between Iran and the United States. Negotiations had been expected in Islamabad over the weekend. Trump canceled a trip by his envoys and hinted that the talks could be held by phone. Iran wants to persuade Oman, which shares the strait with Iran, to support a mechanism for charging tolls to ships passing through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter. Oman's response is currently unknown. The official, who is involved in the mediation efforts, also indicated that Iran insisted on ending the US blockade before further talks, and that mediators led by Pakistan are trying to resolve significant differences between the two countries. Trump told reporters on Saturday that, after he canceled a trip by his envoys to Pakistan, Iran sent a "much better" proposal. He did not elaborate, but stressed that one of its conditions is that Iran "will not have a nuclear weapon." Iran insists its program is peaceful, but the United States wants to eliminate Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which could be used to build a bomb, should Tehran decide to do so. Since the war began, at least 3,375 people have died in Iran and 2,521 in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and the Hezbollah militia resumed two days after the war with Iran began. Another 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Arab Gulf states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers have also been killed in Lebanon, along with 13 U.S. service members in the region and six UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has lasted for three weeks. Despite the truce, both sides continue to attack each other. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has not participated in the diplomatic efforts led by Washington. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Becatoros from Athens, Greece. Associated Press journalists Farnoush Amiri in New York and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. ___ This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.