Iran signalled a renewed willingness to revive diplomacy with the US on Tuesday as its President, Masoud Pezeshkian, headed to New York to attend the UN General Assembly.
In two separate reports after Mr Pezeshkian took off for the UN annual gathering, senior Iranian officials said Tehran had offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington eases military pressure and lifts its blockade.
Mr Pezeshkian is due to address the General Assembly on Wednesday and hold meetings with foreign leaders, Iranian expatriates, US experts and think tank members, state media reported.
Under the proposal, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington takes initial steps to ease military pressure and ends its blockade of Iranian ports, the Kyodo and Reuters news agencies reported, both citing a senior Iranian official. Tehran would then return to negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent end to hostilities.
“There is a possibility of moving toward an agreement,” the official told Kyodo, while saying Washington would need to demonstrate “seriousness and commitment” for diplomacy to advance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was willing to meet Iran on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
“We’re open to that. I don’t think anything is scheduled at this point, but we’re certainly open to something like that, especially if it has the prospects of leading to something positive and ultimately achieving the goal of what this is all about,” Mr Rubio told NBC. “And that is the fact that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. They just simply can’t.”
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in New York on Monday after travelling via Doha, where he held talks with Qatari officials on regional developments. He said Iran would use the UN gathering as a platform to defend its interests in the war with the US.
“Our most important goal is to be present on a major international platform to defend the legitimacy, rights and interests of the Iranian people,” Mr Araghchi said in New York.
Mr Pezeshkian echoed that message before his departure, saying Iran would “powerfully defend our positions in international forums” and convey the Iranian people’s message to the world.
The senior Iranian official quoted by Kyodo said Tehran planned to use the General Assembly to consult with countries acting as intermediaries between Iran and the US.
The official also ruled out a meeting between Mr Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the General Assembly, but said progress towards an agreement remained possible if Washington took concrete steps.
Hormuz offer
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the confrontation between Tehran and Washington. Iran's proposal would allow the waterway to be reopened within seven days of Washington easing military pressure and lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, the senior official said.
Iran controls the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil supplies normally passes. Restrictions in and around the waterway have added pressure to global energy markets and heightened concerns about regional shipping.
The Iranian proposal was delivered to Washington through mediators six days ago, Reuters reported. The offer marks a potentially significant diplomatic opening after weeks of confrontation, although the two sides remain divided over the terms for ending hostilities.
The official said an agreement to end the conflict could be discussed in New York through mediators, while stressing that Tehran expects tangible steps from Washington before reopening the waterway.
The diplomatic drive comes after the Houthis made rapid territorial gains in Yemen and intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia, including against energy infrastructure and shipping.
The escalation has also put Washington under pressure to support Riyadh. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has repeatedly urged Mr Trump to intervene against the Houthis.
US military preparations had reportedly advanced significantly, with target lists approved and aircraft being loaded with weapons before Mr Trump called off the strikes, at least temporarily, The New York Times reported.
The Houthi escalation gives Iran another regional pressure point as Washington and Tehran remain at odds. The Houthis have said they will not target US vessels but have maintained attacks against Saudi-linked targets.
Delegates denied visas
Mr Araghchi said Iran would also use the UN meetings to highlight what his country sees as the international system’s failure to uphold peace and security.
“This year, after the war that took place, naturally this platform will be a place to convey the suffering of the Iranian people,” he said.
Mr Pezeshkian also accused Washington of restricting media access to prevent the consequences of the conflict from being seen and heard, saying: “The Americans are afraid of these tragedies being seen and heard, and that is why they have imposed restrictions on the media.”
He said Iran had repeatedly negotiated and signed agreements, only for commitments to be disregarded.
“The whole world saw how the commitments were not honoured and the written agreements were trampled on,” he said.
The Iranian delegation’s presence at the meeting has itself become a point of friction with Washington. The US issued visas to Mr Pezeshkian and Mr Araghchi but denied visas to several members of the wider delegation, including members of the president’s communications team.
Iran will also participate in meetings involving the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and Non-Aligned Movement, as well as a leaders’ summit on the environment.
