USO•USO•Iran is deliberately prolonging talks with the US ahead of November’s midterm elections, Iranian officials say, while preparing for possible renewed attacks. Tehran’s proposal offers to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington lifts its blockade, eases oil-export restrictions, releases frozen assets and ends hostilities.
Iranian officials say Tehran is prolonging talks to deny President Donald Trump a political victory before the November 3 congressional elections, while expecting renewed US and Israeli attacks. The sides disagree over sequencing: Washington wants Iran’s nuclear programme on the agenda from the outset, while Tehran says its conditions under a “seven-day plan” must be met before nuclear negotiations begin.
Iran offered through Qatari mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days under Iranian control, provided Washington lifts its maritime blockade, eases restrictions on Iranian oil exports, releases frozen assets and ends hostilities on all fronts. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the offer remained on the table and messages were being exchanged through mediators.
Iran’s annual inflation reached 73.6% in September, and the rial has fallen nearly 35% against the dollar since Washington reapplied its naval blockade in July. Iranian seaborne crude exports fell to zero in the second week of September from a 14-day average of 230,000 barrels per day at the start of the month, and remained there as of October 5, Vortexa data showed. Analyst Saeed Leylaz said deepened distrust means a sustainable deal with the US is no longer possible and “nothing will go back to the pre-war status quo.”
