Iran ready to reopen Strait of Hormuz if US eases military pressure and lifts blockade

By Parisa Hafezi

NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Iran can reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days ​if the United States eases military pressure and ‌lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.

On Sunday, Iran's military central command said it was informed ​the US was preparing to restart military operations with ​the support of regional countries, and warned this would ⁠lead to Tehran's retaliation "without limitations and considerations".

"The US needs ​to announce that it wants to resolve the issue diplomatically, ​make that official, and then agree on a timeline for how the process will move forward", the senior Iranian official said, adding the ​Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly is in ​New York and has full authority to revive diplomacy with the United ‌States.

Iran's ⁠President Masoud Pezeshkian, who left Tehran for New York on Tuesday morning, will not meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the UN headquarters in New York, the official told ​Reuters.

The Iranian official ​said details ⁠on an agreement to end hostilities with Washington can be discussed in New York via ​mediators, explaining that Tehran's proposal was delivered to ​the ⁠US via mediators on September 16.

"The UN General Assembly is a golden opportunity for the US to return to diplomacy", the ⁠official ​said, adding that Tehran would welcome ​a revival of diplomacy if Washington takes tangible steps.

Reporting by Parisa Hafezi, writing ​by Dubai Newsroom, editing by Andrew Heavens and Louise Heavens