Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear program within seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales and observes a ceasefire extending to Lebanon. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the proposal Thursday at a private gathering on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, according to an attendee. The offer, conveyed to Washington through mediators, resembles a June Memorandum of Understanding but compresses its timetable after the earlier deal’s 60-day interim period collapsed when Iran resumed attacks on shipping. The strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas moved before the war, has become Tehran’s principal leverage point, with consequences reaching beyond the Middle East. The White House said U.S. officials were engaged in positive and constructive discussions with mediators and that Washington was facilitating significant oil exports through the waterway. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute said a rapid agreement could benefit U.S. President Donald Trump before November’s midterm elections, lower gas prices and ease pressure on Tehran, though he also cited deep suspicion that Iran might use an agreement to buy time and export more oil. Saudi Arabia is skeptical of the proposal, particularly after Houthi forces seized Yemen’s strategic Red Sea coast and a vital Saudi pipeline came under attack. Gulf states had previously supported renewed negotiations and could accept a temporary Iranian role in managing the strait, but a planned Oman meeting on an emerging Oman-Iran arrangement was canceled after Riyadh sought amendments. Diplomatic activity continued with President Masoud Pezeshkian’s meeting with Qatar’s prime minister and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s statement that Washington would exchange ideas and messages if an opportunity arose. Yet mistrust remains high after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran twice during nuclear talks and both Washington and Tehran accused each other of violating the June agreement. Iranian hard-liners have also criticized Pezeshkian and Araghchi, while officials including Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi argued that Houthi pressure on the Bab el-Mandeb could force the United States to accept Iran’s conditions. Iran’s internal divide was acknowledged publicly by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who warned against both pursuing war without a path to victory and underestimating Iran’s national capabilities.