Araghchi says Iran and mediators have reached two-day Hormuz plan but rules out direct U.S. talks until Washington accepts Tehran’s conditions

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran and mediators have narrowed a proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to a two-day process, but insisted there are currently no plans for direct negotiations with the United States and that Washington must first accept Iran’s conditions.

“I can say that we have now reached a two-day plan,” Araghchi told Al Jazeera. “This means that on the first day, the United States implements a series of measures, and on the second day, the Strait of Hormuz reopens and transit returns to its previous state.”

Araghchi said Tehran’s demands include lifting sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum, reducing U.S. forces in the region to previous levels, restoring oil-sanctions waivers and releasing frozen Iranian assets, including $6 billion held in Qatar.

Iran is also demanding U.S. recognition of a new shipping route through Hormuz agreed between Tehran and Oman, with other routes through the northern and southern parts of the strait closed.

“No meeting has been scheduled so far,” Araghchi said, dismissing reports of imminent U.S.-Iran meetings in Qatar, Türkiye or elsewhere as “media speculation.”

“We are not currently in a situation where we need to hold a meeting. Our conditions are clear. If the United States accepts these conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen and negotiations will begin.”

Araghchi said the International Atomic Energy Agency would “certainly” have a role in any future nuclear agreement, while warning that Iran would not capitulate because of economic pressure.

He also addressed a message sent by U.S. Vice President JD Vance to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, saying Tehran had studied it carefully and discussed it at senior levels. According to Araghchi, the message sought to preserve a path for dialogue and a peaceful settlement of disputes.

Araghchi said Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf remains Iran’s senior negotiator and has Rezaei’s full support, rejecting suggestions that Washington could exploit divisions within Tehran’s leadership.

On the prospect of renewed war, Araghchi said Iran had modernized its weapons, addressed weaknesses exposed in previous fighting and tested new systems, declaring its armed forces more prepared than before.

He said Iran would again strike U.S. bases and American targets if attacked, while maintaining that Tehran does not intend to target friendly regional states. He acknowledged that missiles could stray from their intended paths during a conflict.

Araghchi also said Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan had not visited Tehran as representatives of their Mecca defence agreement, but as three major regional powers. He described their joint consultations with Iran as a “very good start” and said the four countries had agreed to continue dialogue at different levels.