Iran says via Pakistan it would reopen Hormuz if US lifts blockade
Iran's ambassador in Islamabad says Tehran told Pakistani mediators it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington ends its naval blockade. A Revolutionary Guards-linked agency denied any new offer, and Trump is weighing new strikes.
At a glance
- Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said on Saturday, October 24, that Tehran told Pakistan it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
- He said the message was passed on during Field Marshal Asim Munir's visits to Tehran, and accused President Trump of rejecting it.
- A Revolutionary Guards-linked news agency called reports of a new Iranian proposal false and said Iran stands by its seven conditions.
- Iran says it remains open to talks under the June interim deal brokered by Pakistan and Qatar, while Trump says the US could strike again 'maybe tomorrow' or reach a deal.
Iran has told Pakistani mediators it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, Iran's ambassador in Islamabad, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said on Saturday, October 24. He said the message was passed on during army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's visits to Tehran, and that President Donald Trump rejected it by insisting the blockade continue. Hours later, a news agency close to Iran's Revolutionary Guards denied that Tehran had made any new offer.
What the ambassador said
Amiri Moghadam spoke at a seminar in Islamabad. His main points:
| Claim | Detail |
|---|---|
| The offer | Iran would reopen Hormuz to shipping if the US ends its blockade of Iranian ports |
| Channel | Passed to Pakistan during Field Marshal Asim Munir's visits to Tehran |
| US response | Trump rejected it and insisted the blockade stay, the envoy said |
| Talks | Iran is still open to negotiations under the June interim deal |
| Makkah defence pact | Iran will study the Pakistan–Saudi–Turkiye agreement and support it "if it is good" |
He accused Washington of undermining diplomacy and dragging out the standoff over the waterway.
The denial
The account was quickly muddied. A news agency linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) called reports of a fresh Iranian proposal untrue and said Iran had made no new offer. It said Tehran stands by its seven conditions for a settlement and will "find ways around" the blockade.
The mixed signals reflect a familiar pattern: Iran's diplomats speak of flexibility while the Revolutionary Guards, who control much of the country's security policy, take a harder public line.
Background
The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, normally carries about a fifth of the world's oil. Shipping through it has been heavily disrupted for months.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | US launches its "Epic Fury" military campaign against Iran |
| April 13, 2026 | US imposes a naval blockade on Iranian ports after the Islamabad talks fail |
| June 2026 | Pakistan and Qatar broker an interim deal meant to restore shipping, lift the blockade and open nuclear talks |
| October 20, 2026 | Field Marshal Asim Munir visits Tehran and meets President Masoud Pezeshkian |
| October 24, 2026 | Iran's envoy describes the Hormuz offer; an IRGC-linked agency denies it |
The June interim deal never fully took hold. President Pezeshkian has blamed the United States for its failure, while also calling for a new attempt at talks. Iran said on Saturday that US warships would never be allowed into the Gulf "under any circumstances".
Reactions
There was no public US response to the ambassador's account. Trump said on Saturday that the United States could strike Iran again "maybe tomorrow" or reach a deal, adding that Iran wants an agreement but questioning whether it would keep one. US military planners have prepared follow-up strike options, according to reports, with some pointing to timing after the November 3 midterm elections.
Pakistani and Turkish officials have said the Makkah defence agreement with Saudi Arabia is purely defensive and does not target Iran or any other country, and Pakistan says any role it plays under the pact would be strictly defensive.
Why it matters
For Pakistan, the envoy's remarks confirm how central Islamabad has become as a channel between Tehran and Washington. Pakistan shares a long border with Iran, depends on Gulf energy imports and has millions of workers in the Gulf states. A renewed war or a long closure of Hormuz hits Pakistan directly through fuel prices, remittances and trade.
For the world economy, any sign that Hormuz could reopen matters. Brent crude traded around $117 a barrel late last week as fears of new US strikes grew. An agreement to swap the blockade for open shipping would likely push prices down sharply; renewed strikes would push them higher.
What happens next
- Coming days: Watch for any US reply to the reported offer, and whether Pakistan or Qatar announce new contacts.
- US strike decision: Trump has said a decision could come at any time; reports say options are ready.
- November 3: US midterm elections, which several reports link to the timing of any new military action.
- Makkah pact: Turkiye's parliament is still to ratify the Pakistan–Saudi–Turkiye defence agreement; Iran says it will study it.
Questions people are asking
Will Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran's ambassador to Pakistan says Tehran would reopen the strait if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Washington has not accepted that, and a Revolutionary Guards-linked agency denied that Iran made any new offer, so the strait remains largely closed.
What is Pakistan's role between Iran and the US?
Pakistan, together with Qatar, brokered the June interim deal between Iran and the US and carries messages between the two sides. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has visited Tehran several times, most recently on October 20.
When did the US blockade of Iran start?
The US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, 2026, after the Islamabad talks failed during an earlier ceasefire.
