Iran has given the United States a new proposal through Pakistani mediators to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and move toward ending the war, while postponing nuclear negotiations until later, in the sign that both sides are still searching for a diplomatic off-ramp even as a fragile ceasefire strains under continued pressure.
Iran Floats New Off-Ramp Through Pakistan
Axios reported on Sunday that the plan would extend the current truce so the parties could work toward a permanent end to the fighting, with nuclear talks delayed until after the U.S. blockade of the strait is lifted. The proposal was delivered to the White House via Pakistani mediators, though it remains unclear whether Washington wants to pursue it, the report said.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told the news outlet that the talks are too sensitive to conduct in public and said the administration would only accept an agreement that protects U.S. interests and prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Trump Pauses Envoys As Talks Stall
The report comes after efforts to restart peace talks faltered over the weekend. Reuters reported that Trump canceled plans to send envoys to Pakistan after concluding there was no point in dispatching them while Tehran remained divided and noncommittal. Iran, for its part, has said it will not negotiate under threat.
While the ceasefire has largely held since early April, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively choked by parallel pressure tactics, with Iran still wielding control over the waterway and the United States maintaining its blockade campaign. The disruption has kept oil markets on edge and shipping traffic sharply constrained, adding to inflation fears worldwide.
Araghchi Shuttles Between Mediators And Allies
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi met mediators in Pakistan on Saturday and left Islamabad ahead of the expected arrival of U.S. envoys. He also met Omani officials in Muscat on Sunday to discuss Hormuz before returning to Islamabad and is expected to travel to Moscow next for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In a social media post on Saturday, Araghchi said Iran has “yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy.”
Image via Shutterstock/ Fly Of Swallow Studio
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