TEHRAN/ISLAMABAD - Iran has formally delivered a new proposal for peace talks with the United States to Pakistani mediators, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported Friday, in a move that could improve prospects for breaking the impasse in efforts to end the two-month-long conflict .
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The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the text of the latest negotiating proposal was handed over to Pakistani officials on Thursday night, with Pakistan continuing to serve as the official mediator between Tehran and Washington . Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated in an interview with state-run IRIB TV that "ending the war and establishing lasting peace are Tehran's priorities in talks with the United States" .
Proposal Centers on Strait of Hormuz
While the exact contents of the proposal have not been publicly disclosed, reports indicate that the framework focuses on reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz - a vital maritime chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes . Iran has maintained restrictions on the strait since the outbreak of the US-Israeli military campaign on February 28, resulting in severe disruptions to global energy supplies and sending oil prices surging past $126 per barrel at their peak .
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, Iran's proposal suggests restoring maritime traffic through the strait in exchange for the United States lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports . Tehran has also proposed that discussions on its nuclear program be postponed for future rounds of negotiation - a condition that US President Donald Trump has reportedly been reluctant to accept .
US Reviewing the Proposal
The White House has confirmed that the proposal is under review. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Iran's offer as "more constructive than expected" but questioned whether Tehran was negotiating in good faith . However, Trump has maintained that the naval blockade will remain in place until Iran's nuclear program is comprehensively addressed, with key demands including Tehran halting its enrichment activities for 20 years and exporting its stockpile of highly enriched uranium .
A source familiar with the situation told CNN that Trump is "not likely to accept the plan" in its current form, as administration officials have expressed concern that reopening the waterway without addressing nuclear enrichment would eliminate a significant source of American diplomatic leverage . Nevertheless, maintaining the blockade carries its own risks, as continued closure of the strait sustains elevated energy prices that have contributed to rising fuel costs for American consumers .
Pakistan's Mediation Role Intensifies
Pakistan has been working "silently" behind the scenes to find a "middle way" for a US-Iran agreement, with two government sources confirming that both sides are actively engaged in back-channel diplomacy through Islamabad . Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated Thursday that Pakistan has maintained "open channels of communications" with both Washington and Tehran in recent weeks amid stalled talks .
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has emphasized that Islamabad's diplomatic efforts are continuing "consistently" to bring a negotiated settlement to the conflict . Pakistani officials have confirmed that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir are "personally engaged" in the mediation process, with Munir having spoken directly with Trump on several occasions .
Stalemate Persists Despite Ceasefire
The first round of direct talks between Iran and the United States was held in Islamabad on April 11-12, hosted by Pakistan, but ended without an agreement . A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan was announced on April 8 and has since been extended unilaterally by Trump at Islamabad's request, though no new timeline has been set .
A second round of talks that was scheduled to take place in Islamabad was cancelled after the Iranian delegation departed the Pakistani capital following high-level meetings, leaving Pakistan's mediation efforts facing significant challenges . Trump subsequently cancelled the planned visit of the US delegation, which was to have included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner .
Heightened Military Tensions
The diplomatic moves come amid continued military tensions. Reports indicate that Trump received a 45-minute briefing on new military operation plans against Iran from US Central Command leadership on April 30, though no decision on military action has been announced .
Iran has responded by activating air defenses and warning that any new US attack, "even if limited, would trigger long and painful strikes" on American positions across the region . A senior official of Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated that US naval assets could face retaliation similar to earlier attacks on regional bases .
Economic Impact and Global Concerns
The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz has choked off approximately 20% of global oil and gas supplies, sending energy markets into turmoil . United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that prolonged disruption to the strategic waterway could slow global growth, drive up inflation, and push tens of millions more people into poverty and hunger .
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei has cautioned against expecting quick results from the talks, stating that reaching an agreement in a short timeframe is unrealistic regardless of who mediates . Nevertheless, the submission of the new proposal represents a continued diplomatic effort to find a path forward as the fragile ceasefire holds
