Iran Is Blinking on Hormuz. Here Is What a Real Deal Would Have to Include

Regional powers met in Tehran, Iran cut its reopening timeline from seven days to four, and Treasury says the squeeze is about to tighten. The sticking point is still the nuclear file.

By Clara Hughes

Eight months into the US-Israel war on Iran, the most important waterway in the world is still a bargaining chip. Before the war began on Feb. 28, about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas moved through the Strait of Hormuz. Today shipping there remains nowhere near pre-war levels, and Americans feel it every time they fill up. This week the diplomacy moved faster than it has in months. Here is where things stand, what each side is demanding, and why the next few days matter for Americans at the pump and at the ballot box. What happened in Tehran On Monday a high-level delegation arrived in Tehran. It included Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed the Mecca mutual defense pact in August. They met Iran's national security chief Mohsen Rezaei, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The outcome was modest. According to Iran International, the four countries agreed to continue