Iranian Proposal to Open ‘Hormuz’ Tests Trump’s Conditions

SadaNews - The White House received a new Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, with nuclear negotiations being postponed to a later stage, in an attempt to break a diplomatic deadlock that has become more complicated following the stalling of the Pakistan route, the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, and Washington’s insistence on its nuclear objectives.

According to informed officials who spoke to the Associated Press, Iran demands that the United States end the imposed blockade as part of its proposal.

The new proposal, conveyed by Pakistan to the United States, is unlikely to receive support from President Donald Trump, who wants to terminate Iran's nuclear program under a comprehensive agreement that includes the Strait of Hormuz and establishes a permanent ceasefire.

Trump told Fox News on Sunday: "We have all the cards. If they want to talk, they can come to us or call us."

CBS News reported, citing sources, that Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping in exchange for the U.S. lifting its military blockade on Iranian ports and ships.

The network noted that the offer apparently does not include any concessions regarding Iran's nuclear program, which President Trump insists must be dismantled as part of any agreement to end the ongoing two-month war.

Officials and sources told Axios that diplomacy has reached a stalemate, and that the Iranian leadership is divided regarding the nature of nuclear concessions that can be put on the table.

The Iranian proposal, according to the site, could temporarily surpass this dispute through a quicker agreement that opens the strait and ends the war or extends the ceasefire for an extended period.

However, Axios noted that lifting the blockade and ending the war would remove the pressure tactics that Trump has in any subsequent talks to extract Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and convince Tehran to suspend enrichment, both of which are key objectives of the war for him.

According to the proposal conveyed to Washington through Pakistani intermediaries, the crisis of the Strait of Hormuz and the American blockade would be resolved first. In this context, a long-term ceasefire would be extended, or both parties would agree to a permanent end to the war. Only after that would the nuclear negotiations begin at a later stage.

Two informed sources told Axios that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented a plan to bypass the nuclear issue during his meetings in Islamabad. One of them stated that Araghchi clarified to the Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari mediators during the weekend that there is no consensus within the Iranian leadership on how to handle U.S. demands.

Washington demands that Iran suspend uranium enrichment for no less than a decade and remove enriched uranium from the country. In return, Tehran wants to limit the first phase to opening the strait and lifting the blockade before moving to the nuclear file.

The proposal coincided with intense diplomatic activity by Araghchi. He visited Islamabad on Friday, met with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, then headed to Oman, where he met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, before returning to Islamabad for a second round of talks, and then traveling to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin.

Upon arriving in Russia, Araghchi stated that the goal of his visit is to "discuss developments related to the war" and "consult with our friends." He added in an interview published by the IRNA news agency: "It is a good opportunity for us to consult with our Russian friends about the developments that have occurred regarding the war during this period and what is happening now."

Araghchi indicated that the "excessive demands" from the U.S. side had led to the "failure of the previous round of negotiations despite the progress that was made." He also stated that the U.S. approach is what has "delayed the negotiations" which were supposed to take place in Islamabad.

Araghchi, upon arriving in Russia, viewed ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as a "significant global issue." He commented on his visit to Oman: "Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is a significant global issue. It is natural that as the two coastal countries of this strait, Iran and Oman, we must negotiate to ensure our mutual interests, and coordinate in any steps taken in this regard."

Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X about his visit to Muscat: "As the only two countries overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, we focused on ways to ensure safe passage that serves the interests of our neighbors and the world."

Typically, one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied gas production passes through the Strait of Hormuz, so its closure has raised widespread concern. The Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, stated that Iran conveyed "written messages" to the Americans through Pakistan, addressing "some of the red lines of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz," but stressed that these messages are not part of any negotiations.

In Washington, Trump is expected to hold a meeting in the Situation Room regarding Iran with senior members of his National Security and Foreign Policy team, according to three U.S. officials who spoke to Axios. One source stated that Trump’s team will discuss the deadlock in negotiations and possible next steps.

Trump stated in an interview with Fox News that he wants to continue the maritime blockade that suffocates Iranian oil exports, hoping it will push Tehran to retreat in the coming weeks.

He added: "When you have massive amounts of oil flowing through your system... If this line is closed for any reason, because you cannot put it in containers or ships... What happens is that the line explodes from the inside... They say they have about three days before that happens."

Trump also said: "If they want to talk, they can come to us, or call us. You know, we have a phone. We have good and secure lines." He added: "They know what the agreement should include. It’s very simple... They cannot have a nuclear weapon; otherwise, there’s no reason to meet."

The White House had announced that Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would meet Araghchi in Islamabad, but the Iranians did not provide a clear commitment. Trump told Axios that the Iranian stance pushed him to cancel the trip.