Iran Receives US Response to Seven-Day Proposal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi received Washington's response to a seven-day confidence-building proposal, delivered via Qatari mediators, and has briefed President Masoud Pezeshkian on its contents. The main dispute between Washington and Tehran concerns the sequencing of steps, not the elements, of the plan, which aims to build trust and return to an enhanced version of a memorandum of understanding signed in June. Iran's proposal includes conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, such as a ceasefire, lifting sanctions, and releasing frozen assets. US President Donald Trump previously rejected the proposal, and Washington insists on a comprehensive agreement addressing all issues, including Iran's nuclear program, rather than a phased approach. Iran seeks to ease the US blockade crippling its economy, while the US wants to secure freedom of navigation in the strait.