Iran’s offer to the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days is still on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media outlets on Sunday.

Iran submitted their proposal in mid-September after an interim ceasefire crumbled. Tehran later confirmed it had received a US response but Iran’s security director stated last week the negotiations were halted because Washington had failed to meet all seven conditions for reopening the strait.Our position is clear and is based on the seven-days plan that we made to the US. “We are studying the remarks made by them, but our offer is still on the table and if there is any honesty on the part of the US, which there isn’t, the way to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is obvious,” Araqchi said while in ​Baghdad for a summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Iran’s demands include the easing of the US blockade on its ports, lifting of US restrictions on its oil exports and ending hostilities on all regional fronts, among other conditions.

If Washington meets Tehran’s criteria, the strait may reopen within six days and discussions could resume the following day, Araqchi added.

A key area of contention has been Washington’s insistence on confronting Iran’s nuclear program right away.

Earlier this month, US Vise President JD Vance said Iran had to scale back its uranium enrichment capabilities in a “meaningful” way to meet US demands and end the countries’ eight-month battle.

The talks should first focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which before the war carried nearly a quarter of the global commerce in oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), and restoring security in the waterway, Tehran believes.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called upon political leaders to desist from politicising the battle against terrorism stating Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman can help end the emergency.

“The country’s top priority still is to eliminate terrorism, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the menace continues to pose a serious challenge,” Bilawal said while talking to party members in Karachi on the 19th anniversary of the Karsaz tragedy.

He highlighted that dealing with terrorism must be a serious and effective step and the problem should not become a cause of political debate.

Bilawal remarked that members of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s party had also died in terrorist strikes, and added that he hoped the JUI-F president would openly condemn the terrorist groups.

Also Read: Bilawal Bhutto says terrorism, violence cannot dent resolve for democracy

“Fight against terrorism should not be turned into a political dispute,” Bilawal said, demanding clear and effective stand against the menace.

Talking about the situation that forced the emergency, the PPP Chairman stated that the chief minister of one province was not ready to face the terrorists and the authorities had no option but to impose the emergency step.

He urged political leaders to focus on fighting terrorism, not the politicisation of counterterrorism.

The JUI-F chief can play a constructive role in attempts to end the emergency, Bilawal remarked.

The Foreign Office said on Sunday that Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu would undertake a three-day state visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22 on the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He will be accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed and a high level team of Ministers and Senior Officials.

President Muizzu will meet the President of Pakistan during the visit who will also hold a state banquet in his honour.

He will also hold talks at delegation level with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The two leaders will evaluate the full gamut of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further deepen cooperation in commerce, investment, health, education, tourism, agriculture, defence, maritime security, climate change and people-to-people interactions.

They will also discuss perspectives on regional and international developments of common interest.

The tour will also include a Pakistan-Maldives Business Forum, which will attempt to promote stronger engagement between the business community of the two nations and explore new avenues for trade and investment.

Several agreements and memorandums of understanding are anticipated to be inked in various areas of bilateral cooperation during the visit.

The state visit, the first by a President of Maldives to Pakistan in 11 years, holds special significance as the two nations mark the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 1966.

Pakistan and Maldives enjoy friendly and brotherly relations based on common faith, mutual respect, long-standing goodwill and close cooperation at regional and international fora.