Qatari proposal would reopen Hormuz on second day of confidence-building path between Washington and Tehran

Key Facts

Iran is reviewing Qatari proposals to address its disputes with the United States over its nuclear program, as Doha continues its mediation to prevent an escalation. The Associated Press, citing Middle Eastern officials, said the proposals include confidence-building measures over two days, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz on the second day. The path calls for lifting the U.S. blockade and releasing some frozen Iranian funds before moving to the step involving the strait. It remains a proposal under discussion and has not become an agreement in force. The mediation comes as Qatar said Washington remains ready to reach a solution after the midterm elections.

According to details of the proposal reported by the Associated Press, Tehran would allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to enter sites bombed by the United States and Israel. In return, the two-day measures include lifting the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and releasing some frozen assets, alongside reopening the strait on the second day. The reopening would remain temporary until Iran and other Gulf states reach a permanent arrangement for the passage. Iran and Oman had reached a revised mechanism for the strait, but it did not receive U.S. approval. This places freedom of navigation among the confidence-building steps, without settling the final arrangement for managing the passage.

After the proposed measures are implemented, Washington and Tehran would begin expanded talks covering Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and other aspects of its nuclear program. The information reported by the Associated Press, citing the International Atomic Energy Agency, says Iran has 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to a level of up to 60%. The report compares this percentage with the 90% level associated with weapons-grade material. The stockpile places the nuclear file at the center of the negotiating phase expected to follow the confidence-building measures. But reaching those talks remains contingent first on accepting and implementing the proposed steps.

Iran is holding to broader conditions before entering nuclear talks, according to the Associated Press, including ending the U.S. blockade of its ports, lifting sanctions and releasing its frozen assets. It is also demanding compensation for war damage and an end to hostilities in the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. These conditions point to a gap that goes beyond arrangements for the strait, as Tehran links nuclear negotiations to sanctions and regional security issues. Qatar's prime minister said Washington's interest in an agreement had not changed and that important progress had been made. He added: "We cannot wait for a perfect agreement; we hope to reach a good agreement."

The diplomatic path comes amid continued military activity: the Associated Press said the U.S. military carried out new, limited strikes on Friday targeting an Iranian air-defense system. President Donald Trump described the military action as "minor," while the proposals remained under review. Reopening Hormuz matters given the volume of energy flows through it: oil flows reached 20.7 million barrels a day in 2024 and rose to 20.9 million in the first half of 2025, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Flows in the first half of 2025 were equivalent to about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption and a quarter of global seaborne oil trade. The proposed temporary agreement therefore remains tied to shipping and supply risks as much as to nuclear negotiations.

The previous June agreement illustrates how difficult it is to make temporary arrangements hold: it provided for a 60-day transition period, but quickly collapsed after Iran resumed attacks on ships in the strait, according to the Associated Press. The current proposal compresses confidence-building measures into two days, then leaves a permanent settlement to subsequent negotiations. On November 7, Qatar reaffirmed that its mediation was continuing, and the prime minister expressed confidence that a settlement could be reached. He said the U.S. administration had remained ready to seek a solution even after the midterm elections. The next step would be expanded talks on the nuclear stockpile if the reciprocal measures are implemented, while Iran's conditions and the military strikes remain factors shaping the negotiations.