Iran has presented the U.S. with a fresh proposal through Pakistani intermediaries that focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending hostilities, with nuclear talks delayed to a later stage. The offer, confirmed by a U.S. official and two other sources, aims to break the current stalemate in negotiations.
The proposal reflects internal divisions within Iranian leadership over the extent of nuclear concessions they are willing to grant to secure a deal with the Trump administration. By addressing the strait issue first, Tehran may be attempting to ease immediate economic pressures without confronting its nuclear program.
A potential drawback: if the U.S. lifts its blockade in exchange for reopening the strait, President Trump could lose leverage to demand Iran surrender its enriched uranium stockpile or agree to a decade-long enrichment suspension. Those nuclear curbs remain a central U.S. war objective.
President Trump is expected to convene a situation room meeting on Monday with top national security and foreign policy aides to discuss the proposal, according to three U.S. officials. One official noted the meeting will weigh the offer's implications.
Critics caution that prioritizing the strait deal could entrench Iran's nuclear capabilities, trading short-term relief for long-term strategic risk. The administration faces pressure to ensure any agreement addresses both maritime security and nonproliferation goals.