Iran has conveyed a proposal to the United States through mediator Pakistan that envisions reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war in an initial phase, while deferring the nuclear issue to later negotiations, according to Axios.
Direct talks between the United States and Iran remain in limbo after Tehran failed to confirm its participation in a planned second round of negotiations last week.
Following Iran’s reluctance to engage directly, Donald Trump extended the Islamabad-brokered ceasefire indefinitely to allow Tehran time to formulate a “unified” response to the U.S. peace proposal.
Meanwhile, both sides continue to enforce competing blockades. U.S. naval forces have restricted maritime traffic linked to Iranian ports, while Iran has disrupted international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi—who visited Islamabad twice within three days—is understood to have conveyed the proposal to Pakistani authorities.
The White House has not publicly commented on the proposal so far.
The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has again pushed oil prices higher, as global energy markets grapple with continued uncertainty.
Trump on Saturday called off a planned visit by his advisers to Islamabad, saying Iran’s response did not warrant the long journey.
The U.S. president said Tehran could contact Washington if it wished to advance the peace process and indicated that Pakistan would continue to play a mediation role.
Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
