Right on cue…
Iran has proposed seven-day plan to the US through Qatar, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says.
“If the necessary conditions are met, the Strait [of Hormuz] can be reopened and normal maritime passage restored within seven days,” he says, adding that the “timeline will start as soon as the United States accept this plan. Implementation of the plan must occur within 4-5 days of the timeline and on day 6 the strait will be open”
“The actions that the United States should take are not new. They are all already in the MOU."
The status quo isn’t sustainable on any of the fronts.
The Israelis would prefer to reopen the war in Iran especially ahead of the elections, or maintain the economic pressure and return to the no peace no war mantra.
The Trump administration would prefer a deal ahead of the midterm elections, however a short term deal that does not include the nuclear program is considered a failure and admittance that financial relief is dependent on opening the strait directly contradicts the Trump administrations claim of the US control and effectively would be considered a massive concession that leads to a strategic loss.
Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen and Iraq also prefer a deal but under the right conditions. A deal that would permanently end the war while not only safeguarding additional human life but provide financial incentives to rebuild is the obvious choice. However Iran and its allies insistence on a deal must be according to the 7 conditions or else it too feels that it would have a historic opportunity of reshaping the region and would blunder it through concessions, which is why the insistence on Hormuz is important to maintain leverage in the event of a betrayal as we saw in May and June.
Theoretically is a deal possible-sure but is it likely? I’m not sure because each position directly contradicts the other party and each has at this stage a position in which no one can declare victory or surrender. The timeline is short according to the economical, meteorological, and political developments that the conclusion of the flood will happen in October.