The demand followed indirect US-Iran talks in New York through Qatari mediation. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sept. 22 that Tehran could reopen the strait within seven days if Washington eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran subsequently outlined conditions including an end to the war on all fronts, the naval blockade and economic warfare, as well as the release of Iranian assets. US envoy Steve Witkoff said mediators shuttled between the delegations and would continue their work.
Some oil shipments continue through the strait. TankerTrackers estimated crude flows through Hormuz at 10.35 million BPD on Sept. 23, while saying traffic remained below its prewar level. The tracking service attributed rising flows partly to Saudi Arabia redirecting exports eastward after a pipeline disruption and to daytime transits under additional US Central Command protection.