The United States is reviewing a fresh proposal from Iran aimed at breaking the current war deadlock, even as deep disagreements over nuclear demands and maritime control continue to stall progress.
According to officials and sources familiar with the talks, Tehran’s latest plan proposes a phased approach to ending the conflict. The first stage would focus on halting hostilities and easing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, while deferring negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme to a later phase.
Washington, however, is resisting that sequencing. The US insists that any agreement must directly address Iran’s nuclear ambitions from the outset, a sticking point that has repeatedly derailed previous rounds of talks.
Iran has made it clear that lifting the US naval blockade is a precondition for any meaningful negotiations. The blockade, alongside Iran’s own restrictions in the Gulf, has sharply reduced shipping activity and tightened global energy supply.
That pressure is already being felt in global markets, with oil prices climbing to a two-week high amid fears of prolonged disruption.
Tehran is also pushing for broader guarantees, including a sustained ceasefire across the region and relief from economic pressure, while leveraging its strategic position over Gulf shipping routes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has been actively engaging regional and global players, with recent visits to Pakistan, Oman and Russia as part of efforts to revive negotiations.
Despite the collapse of in-person talks in Islamabad, backchannel discussions are continuing through mediators, with both sides signalling cautious openness to further dialogue.
The conflict, now weeks old, has already disrupted global energy flows and intensified instability across the Middle East. Analysts say the gap between both sides remains wide, particularly over nuclear restrictions and control of key waterways.
While the new proposal offers a possible off-ramp, its success depends on whether either side is willing to shift long-held positions.
For now, the situation remains finely balanced, with diplomacy still active but no clear breakthrough in sight.
