U.S. and Iranian officials spoke separately with mediators on Monday, September 28, 2026, marking a renewed diplomatic push to end seven months of conflict that has cost thousands of lives and choked vital oil transport lanes, according to officials from both nations.
Diplomatic Talks Focus on Amended Seven-Day Proposal
Negotiations are centering on an amended version of a seven-day proposal that Iran presented the previous week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, an official briefed on the discussions told Reuters. The ongoing war began in late February with joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. The conflict has killed thousands of people over seven months, unsettling global markets as critical maritime corridors remained blocked. According to state news agency IRNA, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi remained in New York after attending the General Assembly to await a formal U.S. response. Araqchi stated that if Americans claim to seek a peaceful solution, Iran has already presented one. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that U.S. officials had separately spoken with mediators, though he provided no further details.
Conditions for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s seven-day plan outlines a comprehensive set of demands before maritime traffic can resume in the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal envisions an end to all hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets, the removal of sanctions on Iranian oil, and the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Once these conditions are met, Iran would allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for oil tankers. Both sides would resume talks regarding Iran's nuclear program and Trump's objective to seize or eliminate its stock of highly enriched uranium. President Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran’s proposal, arguing that Tehran wanted a swift agreement due to crippling economic pressure. However, Trump told Axios on Sunday that he still expected U.S. negotiators to engage in further talks during the week. Araqchi noted on Sunday that mediators had not formally conveyed a U.S. rejection and that Iran awaited Washington’s definitive position before deciding its next moves. Araqchi emphasized that any move to reopen the strait remains contingent on these conditions being met through a negotiated solution.
Iran demands end to hostilities and unfreezing of assets
What triggered the current conflict between the U.S. and Iran?
The war began in late February with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, leading to thousands of casualties and severe disruptions in global oil markets.
What are Iran’s core conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran demands an end to hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in assets, the lifting of oil sanctions and port blockades, and subsequent talks on its nuclear program.
Have previous ceasefire attempts succeeded?
The U.S. and Iran previously agreed to ceasefires during mediated peace talks in April and June, but both agreements quickly unraveled.
