Iran has put forward a new proposal to end the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. The offer comes as the United States and Iran remain locked in a tense ceasefire. Tehran is willing to reopen the vital waterway and end the war — but only if Washington meets three key conditions. However, President Donald Trump is reportedly unhappy with the deal. The main sticking point: Iran wants to postpone all nuclear talks for a later phase.
Iran’s Three Conditions
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the proposal during visits to Oman and Pakistan. Tehran’s conditions are clear. First, the United States must lift its blockade on Iran and its ports. Second, the US must end the war in the Middle East. Third, discussions on Iran’s nuclear program must be pushed to a later phase of the diplomatic process.
Why Trump Is Hesitant
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons. Preventing Tehran from developing such weapons was a core reason for going to war. The Iranian proposal would delay negotiations on the nuclear programme, a move US officials view with deep skepticism.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to rule out any deal that excludes the nuclear issue. “We can’t let them get away with it,” Rubio told Fox News. “We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point.”
The Standoff
The conflict over the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy markets. About one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas normally passes through the waterway. The US blockade is designed to prevent Iran from selling its oil, depriving it of crucial revenue. But the closure of the strait has also pushed oil and gasoline prices higher, putting pressure on Trump ahead of crucial midterm elections.
Frustration is mounting worldwide. Renewed demands have been made to end the blockade, which has raised the price of fertiliser, food, and other basic goods.
Trump’s Frustration With Iran
Trump has expressed frustration over what he sees as Tehran’s inability to negotiate. “Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!” he wrote on Truth Social. “The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!”
What Comes Next
The White House has not officially commented on the proposal. Spokeswoman Olivia Wales said, “The United States will not negotiate through the press – we have been clear about our red lines, and the president will only make a deal that’s good for the American people and the world.”
Delaying nuclear talks might allow a quick agreement to ease pressure on global energy markets. But any decision to halt nuclear negotiations, even temporarily, could be seen as a sign that the war has failed to achieve its biggest goal: forcing Iran to make a deal over its enrichment programme.
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