A narrow strait that carries a large share of the world's oil has become a bargaining chip between Tehran and Washington, and the latest turn is a contest over who said what, and what has already been offered. Iran's Revolutionary Guard-linked Tasnim news agency has dismissed a report that Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to the US naval blockade, insisting that no new proposal has been passed through Pakistani mediators. Yet Iran's foreign minister had earlier spoken of a seven-day reopening plan still under consideration, so the question has become less whether
Iran Calls Report of Hormuz Deal Offer to US a 'Fabrication' as Trump Threatens Renewed Strikes
Two supertankers carrying more than 4.5 million barrels of crude reportedly struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says no fresh proposal was made; the seven-day offer, it says, still stands
Mark
Start with the basics. What exactly did Iran deny?
Mimi
A Saudi outlet reported that Iran had sent Washington an offer through Pakistan: reopen Hormuz if the US ends its naval blockade. Tasnim, which is tied to the IRGC, said that's a lie and that no fresh proposal went to Pakistani mediators.
Mark
But Iran did talk about reopening the Strait, didn't it?
Mimi
Yes. On October 18 Araghchi said a seven-day proposal to reopen it was still on the table. The denial is about a new offer, not that older one.
Luke
Worth noting the denial comes from unnamed sources cited by Tasnim, relayed by Press TV. That's Iranian media denying a Saudi outlet's report. Neither side's account is independently confirmed here.
Mark
And Trump's message?
Mimi
A deal is possible, but it must permanently block nuclear weapons, and he floated "another little Epic Fury" if talks fail.
Mark
What about the tankers?
Mimi
The IRGC Navy says two supertankers carrying over 4.5 million barrels combined hit mines on a southern route Iran calls unauthorised.
Luke
That's an IRGC allegation. The reporting doesn't name the ships or say who laid the mines, and it doesn't describe damage or casualties. I'd hold it as a claim.
Mark
So what's the real question going forward?
Mimi
Whether Pakistani mediation and the seven-day proposal lead to talks at all.
Luke
And right now we don't know whether any channel is actually active. The denial suggests Iran wants to say it's not asking for anything.
Il Polso
- Tasnim has flatly called a Saudi outlet's report of a Hormuz deal offer via Pakistan 'a lie and fabrication,' cutting against the hope of quick diplomacy.
- The IRGC claims full control of the Strait and says two supertankers carrying over 4.5 million barrels of crude struck mines on a southern route it calls unauthorised.
- Iran vows it will never let US warships enter the Persian Gulf, while its military chief mocks Washington's claims that Iran's nuclear sites have been destroyed.
- Trump says a deal is possible but warns of another strike, and the seven-day reopening proposal and Pakistani mediation now hang on whether talks actually begin.
A narrow strait that carries a large share of the world's oil has become a bargaining chip between Tehran and Washington, and the latest turn is a contest over who said what, and what has already been offered. Iran's Revolutionary Guard-linked Tasnim news agency has dismissed a report that Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to the US naval blockade, insisting that no new proposal has been passed through Pakistani mediators. Yet Iran's foreign minister had earlier spoken of a seven-day reopening plan still under consideration, so the question has become less whether an offer exists than what counts as a new one. Meanwhile President Trump, speaking to supporters in Florida, holds out the possibility of a deal while keeping the threat of renewed strikes in view, and the shipping lanes wait in the balance.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has rejected a report that Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade. The report, from a Saudi outlet, claimed the offer had been passed to the US through Pakistan. Tasnim, citing unnamed sources, called it a lie and said nothing new had been sent to Pakistani mediators.
The denial does not fully close the door Iran has left open. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on October 18 that a proposal to reopen the Strait within seven days remained on the table, and that Tehran was reviewing comments from Washington. The distinction Iran is drawing is between that existing plan and any fresh offer.
In Florida, Trump said a deal was still possible but pointed back to earlier US strikes, saying the US might "do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree." He insisted any agreement must permanently prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons, and questioned whether Tehran was smart enough to negotiate.
On the water, the IRGC claimed full control of the Strait and said two supertankers hit naval mines while using a southern route it called unauthorised. Iran also vowed to bar US military vessels from the Persian Gulf, with its armed forces chief saying the US president must only dream of their return, and questioning why Washington still voices concern about a nuclear programme it claims has been destroyed. The coming days will show whether the seven-day proposal and Pakistani mediation lead to talks, or whether threats and the blockade continue.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has rejected a report that Tehran offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifted its naval blockade. Citing unnamed sources, Tasnim called the report "a lie and fabrication" and said Iran has made no fresh proposal to Pakistani mediators. Press TV relayed the denial.
The report that set it off came from a Saudi Arabian outlet. It claimed Iran had passed an offer to Washington through Pakistan: the waterway would reopen in exchange for an end to the US blockade. Tasnim's answer was flat. Nothing new had been sent.
The denial does not erase what Iran has said openly. On October 18, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Iranian media in Baghdad, said Tehran's proposal to reopen the Strait within seven days was still on the table. He said the US had shared comments that Iran was reviewing. He also said that if Washington showed any honesty, which he said it did not, the path to reopening the Strait was obvious. So the line Iran is drawing runs between an existing seven-day proposal and any newly conveyed offer.
In Florida, at a campaign rally, President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran is still possible while keeping military action in view. He has insisted that any agreement must permanently stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. Referring to earlier US military action, he told the cheering crowd, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree." He questioned whether Iran would come to the table at all, saying it should be smart enough to "get down to business," but that he doubted it, because perhaps Iran was not smart.
On Saturday the IRGC said Iran retains full control over the Strait of Hormuz and that vessels operating there are being given security under Iranian regulations. The IRGC Navy also alleged that two supertankers, carrying more than 4.5 million barrels of crude oil combined, struck naval mines while trying to use a southern route through the waterway. Tehran described that route as unauthorised. These are the IRGC's own claims, as reported.
Iran also warned that it will not let US military vessels enter the Persian Gulf, rejecting Washington's assertion that Iranian military capabilities have been badly weakened. According to Press TV, Major General Ali Abdollahi, chief of the general staff of Iran's armed forces, said Iranian forces had rendered the US Navy ineffective in the region. "The US president must only dream of their military and army entering the Persian Gulf again," he said, adding that Iran would at no time and under no circumstances allow it.
Abdollahi also took aim at Trump's repeated claim that Iran's nuclear facilities have been destroyed. If they had been eliminated, he asked, why does Washington keep voicing concern about the programme?
What to watch is whether the seven-day Hormuz proposal and Pakistan's mediation turn into actual talks, or whether the two sides keep trading threats while the blockade and the disputed shipping route stay in place.
Citazioni salienti
We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree.— US President Donald Trump, at a campaign rally in Florida
We will under no circumstances and at no time allow US military vessels to enter the Persian Gulf.— Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, chief of the general staff of Iran's armed forces, via Press TV
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Politics & Governance