Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated on Monday that Tehran has compressed its proposed timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz from seven days to just two, contingent on Washington accepting a set of conditions that Iran has described as "legitimate" and "reasonable" . The announcement represents a diplomatic signal amid months of maritime disruption that has reshaped global shipping routes and inflated freight costs across energy and container trades.
The two-day offer is a modification of the seven-day plan Iran originally presented in September on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly. According to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Qatari mediators requested that the implementation window be shortened, first to five days and ultimately to two . Under the revised proposal, the United States would implement a series of measures on the first day, with the Strait reopening and navigation restored on the second day .
Iran's conditions include ending the war across all fronts, particularly Israeli attacks on Lebanon; lifting US sanctions imposed after the collapse of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding in July; reducing the American military presence in the region; reinstating oil waivers granted in June; releasing frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar; ending the US naval blockade of Iranian ports; and formally recognising a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz established through discussions with Oman, while closing other routes .
Baghaei emphasized that the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States continues through intermediaries, but that implementation depends entirely on Washington's willingness to accept Tehran's demands. He warned that no final agreement can progress, and the Strait cannot be opened or made safe, unless the US meets Iran's conditions, including lifting its naval blockade . The spokesman also cautioned that any military aggression against Iran would be met with a "strong, immediate and comprehensive" response .
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively disrupted since conflict escalated in early 2026. The waterway normally handles approximately 20% of global seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas flows, and ship crossings have fallen by over 80% since the US-Iran war broke out in late February . Major carriers including Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have suspended or halted routes through the strait, instructing vessels to seek safe havens or reroute around the Cape of Good Hope . The disruption has driven tanker freight rates to record highs and forced global supply chains to adjust to longer transit times and higher costs.
For the logistics sector, the two-day proposal offers a potential pathway to restoring one of the world's most critical maritime corridors, but the conditional nature of the offer means uncertainty remains high. War-risk insurance premiums, which have surged dramatically since the conflict began, are unlikely to normalise quickly even if the Strait reopens. Shipping lines will need assurances of sustained security before committing vessels back to the route, and the backlog of diverted cargo and repositioned equipment will take time to unwind.
The timing of the announcement comes amid heightened diplomatic activity. Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei confirmed he had reviewed a letter from US Vice President JD Vance, describing Washington's tone as having "changed completely" and calling it a "positive sign" . However, Iranian officials have stressed that goodwill gestures alone will not suffice, and that tangible US action on the stated conditions is required before the Strait can be reopened and normal commercial navigation restored.