Iranian media reported on November 8th that Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi stated that Iran and the United States are still engaged in indirect negotiations through mediators. On the same day, US President Trump posted on social media that the US and Iran are conducting "productive" consultations, and the US will not launch an attack on Iran before the midterm elections.
In an interview, Araqchi said that the two sides continue to exchange information through mediators. "Iran has put forward its own proposal, the so-called 'seven-day plan,' and has also listened to the US response." Iran is assessing the US response to the proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and will respond within a few days.
In his post, Trump stated that despite Iran's "very bad" economic and military situation, and despite the continued US blockade and the large volume of oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz, "we will not attack Iran at any time before the US midterm elections on November 3rd."
Controlling navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains a key issue in the power struggle between the US and Iran. According to Iranian media reports on the 7th, Mohammad Reza Naghdi, a senior advisor to the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, and the Iranian armed forces have complete control over it. "However, some people are still using small boats to 'smuggle' oil," he said, adding that the few channels opened by criminals by blasting or damaging rocks in the Strait of Hormuz will soon be closed.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bagaei said on the 7th that Iran and Oman have reached an agreement on the geographical coordinates of safe passages in the Strait of Hormuz and the procedures for registration with relevant international organizations.
According to other media reports, Russian President Putin, during a meeting with Iranian President Pezechzian in Turkmenabashi, Turkmenistan, on the evening of the 8th, stated that Russia is willing to do its utmost to assist Iran in resolving the conflict. Pezechzian stated that despite the continued attacks by the United States, "Iran will not leave the negotiating table." Furthermore, a Qatari Foreign Ministry official said at a regular press conference on the 6th that negotiations and information exchange between the parties involved in the regional conflict are still being conducted through Qatar and its regional partners, and that all parties are working diplomatically to bridge their differences.
