A high-ranking Iranian official disclosed Saturday that Tehran has presented a plan to President Donald Trump that would restore shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz and halt the American blockade of Iran, while postponing nuclear program discussions until a future date.
The conflict has now entered its fourth week since bombing operations by the United States and Israel against Iran were paused, yet no agreement has emerged to conclude a war that has created unprecedented disruptions to worldwide energy markets.
For over two months, Iran has prevented virtually all Gulf shipping except its own vessels from passing through the waterway. The United States responded last month by implementing its own embargo on ships departing Iranian ports.
On Friday, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Iran’s most recent offer, though he declined to provide specific details about which aspects he found objectionable.
“They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to,” Trump stated to White House reporters.
The administration has consistently maintained that any war resolution must include provisions preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities, which Trump identified as his main objective when initiating military strikes in February during ongoing nuclear negotiations. Tehran maintains its nuclear activities serve peaceful purposes.
The Iranian official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic discussions, explained that Tehran views its newest proposal to postpone nuclear discussions as a major concession designed to make an agreement more achievable.
The plan would conclude hostilities with assurances that Israel and the United States would refrain from future attacks. Iran would reopen the strategic waterway, while America would end its shipping embargo.
Subsequent negotiations would address restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, with Iran insisting that Washington acknowledge its right to uranium enrichment for peaceful applications, even if it agrees to temporarily halt such activities.
“Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official explained.
While news organizations have previously reported Tehran’s intention to reopen the strait before resolving nuclear matters, the official confirmed that this revised timeline has now been formally presented to the United States through intermediaries.
