Iran has offered the United States, through Pakistani intermediaries, a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and pursue an end to the current fighting while postponing negotiations over its nuclear program, Axios reported, citing a U.S. official and two sources. The U.S. State Department and White House had no immediate comment.
Tehran has long sought formal U.S. recognition of its right to enrich uranium for what it calls peaceful purposes; Western governments view Iran’s enrichment capability as a potential pathway to a nuclear weapon. Diplomats say the new proposal would set those nuclear discussions aside for now in exchange for steps to halt hostilities and resume commerce through the Hormuz shipping lane.
A fragile ceasefire has paused large-scale fighting that followed U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, but no comprehensive peace deal has been reached. The conflict has killed thousands, pushed up oil prices, worsened inflation and clouded global growth prospects.
Key developments and context:
– Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described a visit to Islamabad as “very productive,” saying he held consultations with Pakistan’s leadership about conditions for talks with the U.S. He made the remarks upon arriving in St. Petersburg for talks in Russia.
– U.S. Central Command said forces enforcing a maritime blockade on Iranian ports have turned back 38 ships, directing them to return to port.
– Oil prices climbed roughly 2% and U.S. stock futures eased in Asian trading after weekend pauses in U.S.-Iran talks kept Gulf shipping constrained.
– Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf warned Iran holds influential “cards” over energy routes, citing the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb and pipelines. He suggested some routes are being used as leverage while others remain underused or threatened.
– Casualties since the conflict began include at least 3,375 dead in Iran and 2,509 in Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah resumed soon after the Iran-related strikes. Reported deaths also include 23 in Israel, more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states, 15 Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, 13 U.S. service members in the region and six U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon.
– The Strait of Hormuz remains central to diplomacy: Iran has limited movement through the strait while the U.S. enforces a blockade. Iran has reportedly sought Omani backing for a toll mechanism on vessels transiting the waterway; Oman’s response was not immediately clear.
– Araghchi returned briefly to Islamabad amid Pakistani efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations. The White House had planned to send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to follow up on earlier face-to-face talks, but President Donald Trump said he canceled that mission amid limited progress and suggested direct phone contact instead.
– After shuttle diplomacy in Oman and Pakistan, Araghchi traveled to St. Petersburg to seek broader international support for Iran’s de-escalation proposal and to meet Russian leaders.
Diplomatic obstacles remain large. Beyond the nuclear file and control over shipping lanes, Washington seeks limits on Iran’s support for regional proxies such as Hezbollah and Hamas and constraints on Tehran’s missile capabilities. Iran seeks sanctions relief and an end to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah. The broader conflict has destabilized the Middle East, with fresh exchanges of strikes and casualties across the region.
