Araghchi calls US letter a “positive step” as Iranian team holds Doha talks on Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Washington’s attempt to open a line of dialogue with Tehran is “a positive step”, while stressing that no meetings with American officials are currently planned. He spoke to Al Jazeera as an Iranian delegation was in Qatar for consultations with mediators on reviving the ceasefire between Iran and the United States.

According to Al Jazeera, Tehran examined a letter from US Vice President JD Vance in high-level discussions. The delegation travelled to Doha a day after Qatari mediators visited Tehran, in what the broadcaster described as an apparent bid to negotiate the revival of the truce. Araghchi said one of his aides remains in Qatar to continue the talks.

Conditions on Hormuz

The minister said Iran had laid out the terms on which it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a step he said would clear the way for renewed negotiations with Washington. Qatar proposed cutting the time needed to implement Iran’s plan to five days, he said, and the sides have since arrived at a version that shortens it to two days.

Araghchi listed Tehran’s demands. They include lifting the sanctions imposed after the Islamabad memorandum and reducing US forces in the region. Iran also wants its oil waivers restored and all of its frozen funds released, including money held in Qatar. In addition, it is asking for recognition of the shipping routes through the strait that it discussed with Oman, and for other routes to be closed.

Warning to Washington

The foreign minister struck a cautious note about Mr Vance’s letter. If Washington’s purpose in sending it was to sow discord, he said, that would be one more mistake added to earlier ones. He dismissed reports of forthcoming meetings between the two sides as “merely media speculation” and said Iran saw no need to meet the Americans at this stage.

Whether Iran would take part in direct or indirect talks with the United States, he said, depends on whether its conditions are met. Qatari and Pakistani mediators, he added, are continuing consultations on those conditions.

The nuclear file is also in play. Araghchi said mediators had put forward proposals on the nuclear dossier, which Tehran is studying as part of what he called the second phase.

Readiness for an attack

Araghchi told Al Jazeera that Iran does not rule out an attack and is “prepared for all scenarios”. He said the country had upgraded its weaponry, addressed its vulnerabilities and tested new arms, and that its forces are at the highest level of readiness.

What remains open

No date for any meeting with US officials was given. Al Jazeera’s account suggests the next steps depend on the mediators’ continuing work with Tehran on its conditions, including the shortened timeline for reopening the strait, the sanctions and funds demands, and the nuclear proposals now under review.