Iran’s plan, presented by Araghchi at the United Nations earlier this week, links reopening the strategic waterway to the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and an end to the US naval blockade. The Strait of Hormuz is central to global energy supplies.
In an NBC interview on Sept. 27, Waltz said the proposal sought an end to the blockade and sanctions and access to billions of dollars in assets simply to begin talks. He described it as an attempt to put forward terms Washington already knew it could not accept. President Donald Trump rejected the proposal on Sept. 26, saying Iranian leaders wanted a deal because they were losing badly.
Waltz said Trump would keep all options on the table, while arguing the conflict ultimately had to end in some form of arrangement. In a separate NBC interview, Araghchi dismissed Waltz’s remarks as old, unproven accusations. He said Iran was ready to open the strait if the US took certain steps, which he described as recognition of Iran’s rights. Araghchi expressed little confidence in renewed talks with the current administration because of its conduct over the past two years, but said diplomacy remained possible.