Iran weighs U.S. response to its plan to halt regional conflicts
The diplomatic outreach follows indirect talks at the United Nations, even as Iran's security council keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed and sets a deadline for Washington.
Published
Map: The Gulf and Hormuz, marking Strait of Hormuz
Iran is assessing how Washington has reacted to its plan to stop the conflicts drawing in the region. The assessment follows indirect talks at the United Nations between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian mediators.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran fired at commercial ships this morning, a move that pushed tensions beyond the diplomatic channel Witkoff had opened. Iran's security council has tied any reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a four to five day deadline for Washington. Security council secretary Rezaei said the strait will stay closed until Tehran's conditions are met, and that Iran will not negotiate until then.
President Pezeshkian has struck a different tone in public. He told the UN General Assembly that nuclear technology is part of Iran's right to development and that widening the war will not bring security. He has also said Iran believes in diplomacy but is not afraid of a fight, and has linked access to the Strait of Hormuz to Tehran's security demands as Witkoff's talks with Iranian mediators wrapped up.
The gap between that diplomatic language and the security establishment's ultimatums points to internal positioning ahead of possible talks rather than a real shift in posture. Until Washington or Tehran makes a concrete move, the trajectory in the Gulf stays largely where it was.