Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres have discussed diplomatic options for ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, with the strategically important Strait of Hormuz emerging as a central issue in the latest political discussions.

The meeting between Pezeshkian and Guterres took place during the UN General Assembly week in New York. In discussions highlighted on September 26, Guterres stressed the need to resolve the conflict through dialogue and negotiations while respecting international law and navigational rights around the Strait of Hormuz.

The diplomatic engagement came as Tehran announced a proposal under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if certain conditions are met. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the proposal had been communicated to Washington through Qatar.

The United States had not publicly responded to the proposal at the time of the latest reports, leaving the next stage of negotiations uncertain. The issue has become a major part of international diplomatic discussions because the Strait of Hormuz is an important route for global energy shipments.

Pezeshkian has repeatedly maintained that Iran is prepared to pursue diplomacy but does not want negotiations conducted under military pressure. In a recent interview, he said Iran had not initiated the war and would defend itself if attacked. He also argued that disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than military action.

The Iranian president’s position combines two messages: Tehran says it remains willing to negotiate, while also maintaining that it will respond to military action against Iran. This position has become a central part of the country’s diplomatic messaging during the UN General Assembly.

Guterres, meanwhile, has called for negotiations and reaffirmed the UN’s willingness to support diplomatic efforts. The UN has also emphasised the importance of international navigational rights and freedoms in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway has become particularly important in the current crisis because disruptions there can affect international shipping and energy markets. Any agreement that permits normal navigation to resume could therefore have consequences extending well beyond Iran and the countries directly involved in the conflict.

Iran’s proposal is also connected to wider negotiations with Washington. Pezeshkian has said Tehran wants to return to a memorandum of understanding reached with the United States in June. He has welcomed calls for reviving that understanding and has indicated that Iran remains interested in a diplomatic framework.

However, substantial disagreements remain. Tehran and Washington continue to differ over security arrangements, military pressure, Iran’s nuclear programme and the conditions required for a broader settlement.

The Iranian president has also said that Tehran no longer has the same level of trust in Washington, while maintaining that Iran has not abandoned negotiations. This reflects the difficult balance facing both sides as diplomatic contacts continue amid the wider conflict.

The latest diplomatic activity does not mean that a final agreement has been reached. Iran has presented its proposal, but its implementation would depend on agreement over the conditions attached to reopening the waterway and ending hostilities.

The UN’s involvement could provide an additional diplomatic channel, particularly because Guterres has offered institutional support for efforts aimed at reducing tensions. The organisation’s emphasis on international law and freedom of navigation also places the Strait of Hormuz within a wider international framework.

Pezeshkian has now left New York after attending the 81st UN General Assembly and is returning to Tehran. Attention will therefore turn to whether the diplomatic proposals discussed during his visit lead to further negotiations in the coming days.

For now, the political situation remains unresolved. Iran says it is prepared to discuss a diplomatic pathway, while Washington’s response to Tehran’s latest seven-day proposal remains a key unanswered question.