Tehran (AFP) – As the threat of a resumption of war between Iran and the United States increases, Tehran said Monday it was ready to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz in two days instead of the initial plan of seven days, under conditions.
Published on: 02/11/2026 - 1:01 p.m.
After 40 days of intense bombing and an agreement that fell apart, exchanges via Qatar, mediator in the conflict, have intensified in recent days to try to relaunch negotiations in this conflict which is shaking the world economy and causing oil prices to soar.
“Everything depends” now on Washington, said diplomatic spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï to the press in Tehran.
“The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is a further sign of Iran’s good faith,” he said. “If Tehran’s demands are met, it would be possible to restore security in the Strait of Hormuz and restart the negotiation process in a very short time.”
Since the start of the war, triggered by Israeli-American strikes on Iran on February 28, Tehran has claimed control of the strait and regularly targets ships that attempt to cross it without its authorization.
In September, Iran presented, via Qatar, a seven-day plan to reopen the sea route but US President Donald Trump rejected it, while leaving the door open to continuing indirect negotiations.
Tehran conditions its reopening on a ceasefire on all fronts in the region, the unfreezing of its assets held abroad, the lifting of sanctions hitting its oil sector as well as the end of the American naval blockade against its ports.
On Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi complemented Iran's demands in an interview with Al Jazeera, stressing that Washington must also accept the "new route agreed between Iran and Oman for transit through the Strait of Hormuz."
He also mentioned a reduction in US military personnel recently deployed to the region.
“Immediate” response
This summer, the exchange of strikes resumed and Iran responded by once again targeting Washington's allies in the region, from the Gulf to Jordan.
If a military lull has been observed since September, the United States and Israel have increased their threats in recent days, in a context marked by important electoral meetings in both countries.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump, who is preparing to face difficult mid-term elections, said he still has one or two nuclear sites in Iran to “take care of”.
The Islamic Republic denies wanting to acquire atomic weapons, defending its right to civilian nuclear power.
And according to the American media Axios, citing American and Israeli sources, Mr. Trump spoke by telephone with Benjamin Netanyahu about the opportunity and appropriate timing of an intensification of military operations.
According to this information, the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister, who is fighting for his political survival after very close legislative elections, insisted to the president that he strike Iran immediately after the American election scheduled for Tuesday, while the Republican leader expressed the wish to let the negotiations take their course.
“Any act of aggression against Iran, any military attack against Iran, whatever the means, will be the subject of a powerful, immediate and global response on our part,” warned Esmaïl Baghaï on Monday, after similar warnings from the supreme guide and the army.
In this context, China assured Iran of its support in the "defense of its sovereignty and security", during a visit to Beijing by the deputy secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Bagheri.
“All parties should (...) in a spirit of reason and pragmatism favor a political solution rather than resorting once again to armed conflict,” underlined the head of diplomacy Wang Yi.
Also on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping received the Sultan of Oman, also a mediator in the conflict. In a joint statement, Omani diplomacy delivered the same message, urging "the United States and Iran to embark on the path to peace."
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© 2026 AFP
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