• Iran's foreign minister says Tehran welcomes any idea that guarantees regional security without foreign presence.
  • The statement signals conditional openness to a regional security arrangement, but no agreement has been reached.
  • A renewed offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remains on the table, but US–Iran negotiations are stalled.

A Conditional Opening

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Tehran welcomes any idea that guarantees regional security without the presence of foreign factors, according to a statement carried by state media. The remark, delivered during a diplomatic gathering in Baghdad, signals Iran’s conditional openness to a regional security framework—but it falls short of announcing an agreed pact or a breakthrough in stalled negotiations with Washington.

Araqchi’s formulation combines an invitation with a restriction: regional states can cooperate, but outside military powers should not underpin the arrangement. “We reject coercion but remain open to dialogue based on mutual respect and credible security guarantees,” Araqchi said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. He also discussed regional security and economic cooperation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation meeting.

The comments come as efforts to restart broader US–Iran talks have hit a snag over the sequencing of negotiations. Washington wants Iran’s nuclear program addressed at the outset, while Tehran insists that initial talks focus on maritime security and the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, a chokepoint for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade, has been effectively closed to commercial traffic since hostilities erupted last month.

Hormuz Proposal Still on the Table

Araqchi said Iran’s seven-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remained available and that Tehran was reviewing US comments on the plan. The proposal, first presented in mid-September after an interim ceasefire collapsed, calls for a phased reopening: the strait would be cleared for shipping on day six, followed by negotiations on day seven. But the conditions attached are substantial—Iran is seeking an end to the US blockade of its ports, removal of sanctions on its oil exports, and a cessation of hostilities across regional fronts, according to people familiar with the matter.

A senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington is studying the offer but described the conditions as “maximalist.” Vice President JD Vance has publicly demanded a “meaningful” reduction in Iran’s uranium-enrichment capacity before any sanctions relief. The nuclear issue remains a central obstacle: Tehran wants to keep the initial talks narrowly focused on Hormuz, while Washington insists on addressing enrichment first.

Market Implications

The practical importance of Araqchi’s statement hinges on whether it advances safe passage through the strait—not simply whether the diplomatic language sounds conciliatory. Oil markets have been on edge for weeks. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has traded in a wide range above $95 a barrel as traders weigh the risk of prolonged disruption. A credible reopening could ease supply uncertainty and pull prices lower; a continued standoff would keep energy security and import costs under pressure.

For Gulf exporters and shipping companies, reliable passage would improve export planning and transport predictability. For Iran, sanctions relief and an end to the port blockade would directly affect its ability to sell and ship oil—explaining why these feature so prominently in Tehran’s demands. Consumers and energy-intensive businesses would feel the effects through fuel, electricity and transport costs.

No Breakthrough Yet

Regional diplomats have urged continued dialogue. Pakistan’s foreign ministry called for “diplomacy and a political solution,” while Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers issued a statement supporting de-escalation. But these statements do not establish acceptance of Iran’s proposed exclusion of outside powers. Araqchi’s comments are consistent with Iran’s longstanding position: in June, he advocated a Gulf security architecture led by regional states with an economic-cooperation component and no outside military powers. Sunday’s remarks extend that campaign rather than marking a wholly new policy.

A spokesperson for the US State Department did not respond to a request for comment. Iranian officials could not be reached for further comment.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the day Araqchi made the remarks. He spoke on Sunday, not Saturday.