Amid American preparedness.. Araqchi: We will respond to Washington within days

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Despite the US army's preparedness for the possibility of renewed military operations against Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed, on Wednesday, the continuation of the negotiating track between Tehran and Washington, saying that his country is currently studying US comments on the "seven-day plan."

Araqchi also explained that messages are being exchanged between the two sides through mediators regarding Tehran’s plan, adding: “We are currently studying the views of the Americans, and I believe that we will present our response in the coming days,” according to statements reported by the Iranian Tasnim Agency.

In late September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, Araqchi presented a seven-day road map to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, to be followed by a move to broader negotiations with Washington.

According to the Iranian proposal, the deadline begins after the United States approves the plan, with Washington implementing a series of steps during the first four or five days, before reopening the Strait of Hormuz on the sixth day, and starting negotiations on a final agreement on the seventh day.

Iranian demands also included lifting the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, easing sanctions imposed on oil exports, and releasing frozen Iranian assets, in addition to stopping hostilities in regional arenas.

Iran had received through mediators the American side’s comments on the plan, while Tehran confirmed that it was reviewing it before presenting its final position.

Araqchi's statements came at a time when American information said that the US Department of Defense had issued instructions to the US Central Command (Centcom) to complete preparations for the resumption of large-scale combat operations against Iran, according to what was reported by the Axios website, which quoted US officials as saying that these instructions were issued several days ago, without specifying a date for the start of any strikes, while US President Donald Trump had not taken a final decision regarding the resumption of military operations.

The information indicated that the potential military move may coincide with the period preceding the midterm elections for the US Congress in November, while indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran still exist through intermediaries.

The "Seven Day Plan" proposal is mainly related to the Strait of Hormuz, which represents a major axis in the efforts aimed at stopping hostilities and resuming negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

While the importance of the strait comes in light of the sharp decline in navigation traffic through it; Kpler data showed that only seven cargo ships crossed the strait on Tuesday, the lowest level since July 23.

Note that before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, about 125 large commercial ships, including oil and gas tankers, bulk cargo ships, and containers, were crossing the strait daily, and the shipments passing through it represented about a fifth of the global supplies of crude oil and liquefied natural gas.