Middle East crisis live: Iran ready to reopen strait of Hormuz within seven days if US lifts blockade, official says

Traffic through the key waterway for energy supplies has dwindled to a trickle

Tehran appears to have relaxed its preconditions for reopening the strait of Hormuz, saying it is prepared to do so within seven days so long as the US takes reciprocal steps to ease the pressure on Iran.

Previously Iran had set seven onerous pre-conditions for lifting the blockade including “an end to war on all fronts” and a commitment by the US to cease all aggressive actions against Iran including sanctions.