Iran Proposes Reopening Strait of Hormuz and Ending War Before Nuclear Talks with U.S.

Iran has proposed a phased approach to resolving the ongoing conflict with the United States, focusing first on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war, while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage. The proposal, delivered through Pakistani mediators, aims to break the current stalemate in talks.

Multiple sources confirm that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed this during recent visits to Pakistan and Oman. The U.S. has received the proposal, but its response remains unclear. President Trump stated in a Fox News interview that he intends to continue the naval blockade, predicting it could pressure Iran within weeks due to risks to its oil infrastructure.

Trump also canceled a planned trip by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad, citing the lack of progress.

Iran, leadership shifts are complicating the negotiations. Reports indicate that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has stepped down from his role in the negotiating team amid internal disputes over nuclear concessions. Saeed Jalili, a hardliner and former nuclear negotiator, is expected to take over, signaling a potential hardening of Iran's stance.

Ali Safavi, an official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran, described Jalili as an influential figure within the regime, noting that factions differ in methods but share objectives like pursuing nuclear weapons. Jalili, who lost a leg in the Iran-Iraq War, leads the Paydari Front, which opposes Western engagement.

“The factions all ultimately move along a common path: the preservation of power. They differ in methods, not in objectives.”

Pakistani officials have relayed the proposal to the White House, but spokespeople for Pakistan's foreign ministry and military declined to comment. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales stated that the U.S. will not negotiate through the press and seeks a deal that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Trump is set to hold a situation room meeting on Monday with his national security team to address the stalemate and consider options for the war. The U.S. maintains three aircraft carriers in the Middle East—the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford, and USS George H.W. Bush—to enforce the blockade, marking the first such deployment in over two decades.

The proposal seeks to extend the ceasefire or achieve a permanent end to hostilities before tackling U.S. demands for suspending uranium enrichment and removing enriched stockpiles. Sources note internal Iranian disagreements on these nuclear concessions, with Araghchi conveying that no consensus exists among leaders.

Trump highlighted the blockade's impact, saying Iran's oil facilities could collapse without exports, reducing capacity to 50 percent if damaged. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint, with recent attacks on ships reported despite a ceasefire extension.

Analysts like Karim Sadjadpour have noted that the extended ceasefire and blockade continue to shape both sides' strategies.

“When you have vast amounts of oil pouring through your system ... if for any reason this line is closed ... what happens is that line explodes from within ... they say they only have about three days before that happens." — President Trump (Axios). The negotiations follow Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord, which led to Iran's increased enrichment activities. Higher energy prices could persist for months due to the disruptions, according to officials monitoring supply chains.”