Iran Signals Conditional Offer to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing US–Iran Tensions

AP, April 27, 2026, Cairo: Iran has offered to end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade on the country and bringing the ongoing conflict to an end, according to two regional officials familiar with the discussions. Tehran has also suggested that broader negotiations over its nuclear programme would be addressed in a later phase.

The proposal, which was conveyed to US officials through Pakistan, is unlikely to be accepted by US President Donald Trump, the officials said. The plan would leave unresolved key disputes that led to the outbreak of war between the US and Israel against Iran on February 28.

With a fragile ceasefire currently in place, Washington and Tehran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments pass during peacetime.

The US blockade is aimed at preventing Iran from exporting oil, thereby cutting off vital revenue streams and potentially forcing Tehran to halt production due to storage constraints. In response, Iran’s control over the strait remains one of its strongest strategic tools in the ongoing conflict.

The potential closure of the waterway has already had significant global consequences, driving up oil and gas prices, increasing pressure on the US administration ahead of key midterm elections, and straining Gulf economies dependent on the passage for exports. The disruption has also contributed to rising global costs of food, fertilisers, and other essential goods.

Oil markets have reacted sharply since the war began, with Brent crude prices rising steadily and reaching around USD 108 per barrel on Monday—nearly 50 per cent higher than pre-war levels—amid concerns over stranded tankers unable to safely transit the Strait.

According to the officials, Iran’s latest proposal emerged from closed-door discussions between Iranian and Pakistani representatives over the weekend. The plan also delays negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, an issue the US considers central to the conflict, as President Trump has repeatedly cited preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons as a key objective of the war.

The Axios news outlet first reported details of the proposal.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg on Monday. Russian state media reported that Putin praised the Iranian people for their “bravery and resilience” and reiterated Moscow’s intention to support peace efforts in the Middle East.

Araghchi said ahead of the meeting that discussions with Russia would focus on recent developments in the conflict and potential diplomatic pathways forward, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

The talks come as Pakistan continues efforts to revive stalled negotiations between Iran and the United States. A planned round of talks in Islamabad over the weekend did not take place after President Trump reportedly cancelled the travel of US envoys, suggesting instead that discussions could be held through alternative channels, including phone diplomacy.