Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the United States scales back its military pressure, an overture aimed at reviving stalled talks to end the war with Washington. At the same time, Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the U.S. against striking Pickaxe Mountain.
According to Reuters on the 22nd, the Iranian government told Washington it would reopen the strait within a week if military pressure were eased. The offer is seen as a sign that Tehran is stepping up diplomatic efforts to restart dialogue with the U.S.
In the proposal, already delivered to Washington through mediators, Iran called for a resumption of talks aimed at a permanent end to hostilities between the two countries, the official said. The Iranian government plans to hold related consultations with mediating countries on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week.
The official dismissed the possibility of a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump at the assembly, but said progress toward an agreement between the two countries remained possible. "There is a possibility of moving toward an agreement," the official said, adding that "for diplomatic progress to be made, the U.S. side must show sincerity and a willingness to keep its commitments."
Pezeshkian said: "The enemies are trying to block every channel to force the surrender of the Iranian people. Having failed to achieve their goals by military means, they are trying to induce internal weakening." He stressed that "through harmony and unity, we will certainly thwart the enemies' schemes."
The same day, the Revolutionary Guards warned the U.S. not to attack Pickaxe Mountain or any other site in Iran. Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for the Revolutionary Guards, said, "If the United States attacks any point in Iran, we are ready to fight back against the U.S. attack." Pickaxe Mountain is an underground complex near Iran's Natanz nuclear facility that Trump has threatened to strike.
The U.S. said it was willing to meet Iran during the General Assembly but that no firm schedule had been set. Appearing on NBC, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "There is a possibility of a meeting with Iran, but there is no specific schedule yet," adding that "Iran can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. If Tehran accepts that, we're prepared to talk."
