Iran and Mediators Discuss Reopening Strait as U.S. Weighs New Strikes

UPDATE - follow-up to Iran's supreme leader warns U.S., Israel against new attacks: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says a new proposal with mediators could reopen the Strait of Hormuz in two days. Iranian diplomats are currently in Qatar for these talks. Last month, Araghchi proposed a one-week reopening if the U.S. lifted blockades, released frozen assets, and waived oil sanctions, but that plan was rejected. Araghchi stated Iran does not plan to meet U.S. officials directly yet, though he called recent U.S. moves toward broader dialogue positive. Washington must agree to Iranian conditions before talks become direct or indirect. Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command reports the Hormuz blockade has redirected 144 vessels, up from 138 ships two weeks ago. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent posted on X that the U.S. has taken out 1.5 billion barrels of oil and that transit levels are back to pre-conflict levels minus Iranian barrels. The U.S. has been guiding tankers out of the Persian Gulf under military escort for ship-to-ship transfers in the Gulf of Oman, though the mission remains expensive and open-ended.

Nuclear Stance And Tanker Mines

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the country has made no changes to its nuclear doctrine, though renewed strikes could change that position. Rezaei added he has not yet responded to a peace proposal letter sent last weekend by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Additionally, Iran's navy claimed another oil tanker hit a sea mine in the east of the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire after ignoring warnings, though this report could not be immediately verified. The U.K. Marine Trade Operations Centre notes that 59 of 81 attacks on ships in the strait since July 6 have occurred on the southern Omani route.

U.S. Official Position And Base Damage

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday at a G20 press conference in Atlanta that President Trump has not decided whether to launch new strikes on Iran amid stalled peace talks. Rubio stressed that the U.S. has the military ability to succeed if needed, but prefers a peaceful path and has no timeframe for talks. He also highlighted the regional threat posed by Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure. Meanwhile, an Associated Press analysis using satellite imagery and regional officials found that Iranian drone or missile strikes through August hit 26 military bases and sites across Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, damaging equipment and leading the U.S. to move many assets out of the Persian Gulf. Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait alone was struck at least 30 times.

Context

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, connecting Persian Gulf producers to global markets. Disruptions to this narrow waterway and regional military bases directly impact international energy supplies and security dynamics across the Middle East.