{"text":[[{"start":8.091,"text":"Iran has offered the US a new “7-day” proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to restart broader talks towards a final resolution to the war, which the US and Israel launched against Iran six months ago."}],[{"start":22.046,"text":"Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said in New York on Thursday that his country’s mediators had submitted a plan to the White House that could see the strategic waterway open within a week."}],[{"start":33.76,"text":"“We have introduced a plan to the United States through the mediators that if certain conditions are met . . . the strait will be open in seven days” and Iran and the US would restart negotiations for a final deal, Araghchi told a group of reporters and academics gathered on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York."}],[{"start":52.538,"text":"The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, edged lower in Asian trade to $105.69 a barrel after climbing as high as $108 on Thursday."}],[{"start":63.433,"text":"The Iranians said their proposal built on the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the US and Iran in June."}],[{"start":70.303,"text":"That agreement extended an April ceasefire for 60 days, during which the US was to issue waivers for Iranian oil exports and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was to gradually return to prewar levels while the two adversaries negotiated the terms of a lasting settlement."}],[{"start":86.938,"text":"According to the deal, Israel was also to immediately halt its military operations in Lebanon. Iran and neighbouring Oman were to “determine” the future administration of maritime traffic through the Strait."}],[{"start":100.32,"text":"However, the agreement collapsed in early July after Iran began firing on ships that it said were using an “unauthorised” route to transit the strait."}],[{"start":107.623,"text":"The Trump administration has said it will not return to the MoU, which was condemned by both Republicans and Democrats, and is instead pushing for a more comprehensive agreement that will cover not only the strait but Tehran’s nuclear programme, according to people familiar with the talks."}],[{"start":124.298,"text":"In his speech to the UN on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump accused the Iranian government of stalling on striking a deal until after November’s midterm elections in the hope that his Republican Party would lose power."}],[{"start":136.351,"text":"Trump said he could drive the Iranians “into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations” if they did not agree to his terms, and insisted that “when it comes to Iran, [the election] doesn’t even enter my mind”."}],[{"start":151.7,"text":"Shortly afterwards, US and Iranian mediators held talks via Qatari interlocutors on the sidelines of the UN."}],[{"start":158.487,"text":"Both sides said the conversation was productive, but the Iranians privately said they were not optimistic that the US would stick to any agreement."}],[{"start":167.66,"text":"The conflict with Iran has caused gasoline and diesel prices to hit record highs in the US, with voters’ anger over soaring fuel costs becoming a crucial issue in the midterms."}],[{"start":177.68,"text":"Araghchi said Tehran was “not in a hurry” to secure an agreement based on its new proposal. “I think it would be much better if it is done before the midterm election, but it depends on the US administration to decide. We don’t care about the timing.”"}],[{"start":191.06,"text":"“But the plan is very clear,” he added. “The moment they accept this plan, from the next day, this timetable can start, and after seven days, the strait will be open.”"}],[{"start":201.02,"text":"A White House official declined to comment on Iran’s proposal but said the US and Iran “are having positive and constructive discussions through the mediators”."}],[{"start":209.12,"text":"“The United States is in a very strong position with control of the Strait of Hormuz, so we are not in a rush,” the official said in a statement to FT. “Nearly 22 million barrels of oil left the Strait last night.”"}],[{"start":227.64,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1790306722_8405.mp3"}