Iran says US response to Hormuz reopening plan is insufficient

What happened

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei told state media on Sunday that Washington’s response to Tehran’s seven conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz was “insufficient”. He said the United States had accepted some of the demands but left others “unclear”, and warned that Tehran would not continue replying to the Americans until the outstanding issues are clarified.

Who is involved

Rezaei, Iran’s top security official, presented the so‑called “Seven‑Day Plan” last month, which ties the reopening of the waterway to three key concessions: lifting the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, waiving sanctions on Iranian oil sales and extending a cease‑fire that also covers Lebanon. Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that negotiations are proceeding through Qatari intermediaries, saying “messages are being exchanged through mediators”. The Iranian foreign ministry’s spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei added that the United States’ proposal largely mirrors its earlier positions on the nuclear issue and that Tehran’s immediate focus remains the Strait.

What the United States said

Washington has not issued a detailed public statement, but Iranian officials say the U.S. response, conveyed via Qatar, accepted some of the seven points while leaving others vague. An official briefed to Reuters noted that the main disagreement is over the sequencing of steps rather than the substance of the plan.

Wider context

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, making any prolonged closure a global energy concern. Iran has also ruled out nuclear talks at this stage, insisting that any discussion on its nuclear programme must wait until the waterway issue is resolved. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reiterated on October 4 that the strait will stay closed to U.S. vessels until all seven conditions, based on the June Islamabad memorandum, are met.

U.S. political commentary

President Donald Trump, speaking at a campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, claimed the conflict could be ended “really quick” but warned that Iran might step up actions before the November 3 midterm elections. He also affirmed that the U.S. blockade would stay in place despite ongoing diplomatic overtures.

What happens next

Iran has said it is “no longer in the process of responding to the Americans”, signalling a pause in direct communication. The next steps will depend on whether Washington clarifies its position on the remaining conditions and whether Qatari mediators can bridge the sequencing gap. Analysts warn that without a clear breakthrough, the risk of naval incidents and broader regional escalation remains high.