Iranian delegation concludes Qatar visit as Tehran awaits U.S. response on Hormuz plan

Iranian officials say diplomatic exchanges are continuing through Qatar, but insist that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz depends on Washington meeting Tehran’s plansAn Iranian delegation has concluded a visit to Qatar amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement with the United States over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran saying it is awaiting Washington’s response to its latest proposal.The delegation departed Doha on Sunday as Qatar and Pakistan continue facilitating indirect exchanges between Tehran and Washington. The discussions centre on a revised Iranian proposal aimed at restoring maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran awaits U.S. response on Strait of Hormuz plan amid ongoing Qatari mediationSpeaking at a press conference on Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Deputy Foreign Ministry Kazem Gharibabadi’s visit to Doha was intended to facilitate communication with mediators. He confirmed that exchanges of messages between the parties were continuing, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.Baghaei described Iran’s proposal as a viable initiative that remained on the table, adding that Tehran had already communicated its demands to Washington.An official briefed on the discussions told Reuters that the delegation’s departure from Qatar was not linked to difficulties in the negotiations. The official also said a draft proposal was being circulated, but provided no further details.What were some of the discussion points in Qatar? Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera that the discussions centred on a revised Iranian proposal that would shorten the timeline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz from seven days to two, provided Washington meets Tehran’s conditions. Araghchi said suggestions from Doha came through to shorten the timeline. Iran had originally presented its seven-step proposal during the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. Under the original proposal, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen on the sixth day if Iran’s conditions were met, with negotiations between Tehran and Washington resuming on the seventh day.Reuters reports that U.S. President Donald ​Trump rejected the seven-step proposal in September.Under the revised framework, as Araghchi told Al Jazeera, Washington would be required to implement a series of measures on the first day. The Strait of Hormuz would then reopen on the second day, allowing maritime traffic to return to its previous state. Despite the latest diplomatic efforts in Doha, no agreement has been reached. Tehran says it is awaiting Washington’s response to questions raised during the consultations.Iranian negotiators in Doha for Qatar-mediated talks to end war with U.S.: reports