Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz in 7 Days if US Eases Pressure

Iran has signaled through intermediaries that it can reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States takes initial steps to ease military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, according to a senior Iranian official cited by Kyodo News and Reuters. The proposal, reported on Tuesday, is aimed at reviving stalled negotiations between Tehran and Washington. News of the offer raised hopes of renewed U.S.-Iran diplomacy, with U.S. stock futures mixed and oil prices falling back below $100 a barrel as equities strengthened. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical oil chokepoint, carrying roughly a fifth of global petroleum shipments, so any credible reopening signal has immediate market consequences. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai simultaneously launched a sharp attack on Washington, comparing U.S. conduct to Hitler's invasion of Poland, underscoring the domestic political constraints Tehran faces. The offer's terms and the U.S. response have not been publicly detailed, leaving the diplomatic track uncertain.

Global Impact

Economically, a credible reopening would ease global energy costs, softening inflation pressure in import-dependent economies across Asia and Europe and supporting risk assets. Geopolitically, it opens a narrow diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran after prolonged escalation, though the blockade and military-pressure conditions remain unresolved.