Iran's president says many struggle for food as Tehran offers to reopen Hormuz if US lifts blockade
Masoud Pezeshkian said many Iranians struggle to put food on the table, Iran's envoy to Pakistan said Tehran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifted its blockade, and a US carrier was reported rearming for possible strikes.
Photo: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC, Public domain
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on 24 October that "there are many people in this society who are struggling to put food on the table" because of the war, and called for an end to a "state of neither war nor peace" without saying how. The US blockade of Iranian ports has cut off Iran's oil exports and trade, AFP reported.Sources:1Arab News: Iran president says many struggling for food as war bites, Arab News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, told a seminar in Islamabad that Iran remains open to talks under the interim deal brokered by Pakistan and Qatar in June. He said Tehran had conveyed through Pakistan that it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz if Washington lifted its naval blockade, and accused President Donald Trump of rejecting the offer by insisting the blockade continue. The AP report carried no US response.Sources:2ABC News: Iran remains open to talks with US under Pakistan-brokered deal, envoy says, ABC News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Major General Ali Abdollahi, said on state television: "We will not allow U.S. military ships in the Persian Gulf under any circumstances and at any time." A Revolutionary Guard spokesman called US threats "largely for media consumption" and said Iran was ready for renewed hostilities.Sources:3CBS News: Live Updates: Iran warns that U.S. military not allowed in Gulf "under any circumstance", CBS News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)4Mehr News Agency: US merely dream of returning to Persian Gulf: Iran's top gen., Mehr News Agency, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
The Wall Street Journal reported that the USS George Washington carrier strike group in the Arabian Sea was loading long-range land-attack missiles and bunker-buster bombs for a possible resumption of strikes on Iran; US officials said no decision had been made. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack had said on 23 October that strikes could come "this weekend", while the White House has said there would be no attack before the 3 November midterm elections, Arab Times reported.Sources:1Arab News: Iran president says many struggling for food as war bites, Arab News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)3CBS News: Live Updates: Iran warns that U.S. military not allowed in Gulf "under any circumstance", CBS News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)5Arab Times: US Warships Lock and Load Missiles, Ready Aircraft for Possible Fresh Strikes on Iran, Arab Times, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
How others covered it
1 favours Iran, 4 balanced. Sides in this story: United States vs Iran. Our reading of each article; how we decide.
Favours Iran
- Mehr News AgencyControlled by Iran's government, through the Islamic Development Organization (owner)US merely dream of returning to Persian Gulf: Iran's top gen.
Why
- Leads with one side: "Under no circumstances will we allow rusting US warships to re-enter the Persian Gulf." Opens with the Iranian general's claim and his loaded term 'rusting'.
- Uses one side's terms: "The proud and powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have rendered the US Navy ineffective" Unverified Iranian claim with no US response; the WSJ-reported US rearming (Arab Times) is absent.
Balanced
- CBS NewsLive Updates: Iran warns that U.S. military not allowed in Gulf "under any circumstance"
Why
- "We will not allow U.S. military ships in the Persian Gulf under any circumstances and at any time." Quotes Iran's warning alongside US officials (Barrack, Waltz, Trump) in the same blog.
- Arab NewsControlled by Saudi Arabia's state, through the Public Investment Fund (owner) (reported)Iran president says many struggling for food as war bites
Why
- "Washington has in recent weeks dialed back military operations in favor of economic pressure" Gives both Washington's strategy and Iran's position on talks.
- ABC NewsIran remains open to talks with US under Pakistan-brokered deal, envoy says
Why
- Leads with one side: "Iran remains open to talks with the U.S. under a Pakistan-brokered interim deal reached in June to end the conflict." Leads with the Iranian envoy's account and has no direct US response; attributed throughout, so only one signal.
- Arab TimesUS Warships Lock and Load Missiles, Ready Aircraft for Possible Fresh Strikes on Iran
Why
- Leads with one side: "US naval forces in the Middle East are preparing for a possible resumption of military operations" Leads with US preparations, but says no attack is authorised and includes Iran's warning of retaliation.
Where it happened
Who is involved
- Masoud PezeshkianSaid many Iranians struggle to afford food and called for an end to 'neither war nor peace'President of Iran
- Reza Amiri MoghadamSaid Iran would reopen Hormuz if the US lifted its blockadeIran's ambassador to Pakistan
- Ali AbdollahiWarned US warships would not be allowed into the Persian GulfChief of staff of Iran's armed forcesSources:3CBS News: Live Updates: Iran warns that U.S. military not allowed in Gulf "under any circumstance", CBS News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)4Mehr News Agency: US merely dream of returning to Persian Gulf: Iran's top gen., Mehr News Agency, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
- Donald TrumpAccused by Iran's envoy of rejecting the Hormuz-for-blockade offerPresident of the United States
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsSaid Iran was ready for renewed hostilitiesIran's elite military force, including its navy
- United States NavyUSS George Washington group reported rearming for possible strikesNaval branch of the US armed forces
Related stories
Separate stories that sources connect to this one.
- US and Israel draw up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterms, NYT reportsUS officials told the New York Times the two militaries have plans for a short, intense campaign against Iran after the 3 November US midterm elections; Trump has not approved it.Sources:CBS News: Live Updates: Iran warns that U.S. military not allowed in Gulf "under any circumstance", CBS News, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)Arab Times: US Warships Lock and Load Missiles, Ready Aircraft for Possible Fresh Strikes on Iran, Arab Times, 24 October 2026 (source, opens in a new tab)
Show -Infinity older stories
More from Iran
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it hit seven ships near Hormuz and threatens US basesIran's IRGC navy said it struck four vessels it accused of illegal oil transfers and that three more hit mines, pushing Brent crude above $110, while warning that US bases could be targeted.22 Oct 2026
- US and Israel draw up plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterms, NYT reportsUS officials told the New York Times the two militaries have plans for a short, intense campaign against Iran after the 3 November US midterm elections; Trump has not approved it.22 Oct 2026
- Air India, IndiGo and Akasa extend Saudi flight suspensions into November after Houthi attacks on airportsIndian airlines extended cancellations to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, Air India until 7 November, as the Houthis claimed new strikes on Saudi airports and oil sites.24 Oct 2026
- Saudi Arabia says it downed Houthi missiles aimed at Riyadh and Mecca; Houthis say Saudi strikes killed 11Saudi authorities said they intercepted Houthi missiles fired toward Riyadh, Taif, Yanbu and the Mecca and Medina regions, while Houthi media said Saudi airstrikes killed 11 people in Sanaa.24 Oct 2026
Topics
Sources
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Cited: Arab News, ABC News, CBS News, Mehr News Agency, Arab Times. Who these outlets are.