Iran has reportedly given the United States a new proposal to reopen theStrait of Hormuz, bringing an end to the conflict. The new deal proposes to postpone the nuclear negotiations for later stages, reported Axios, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through it.
The new proposal has been sent to the US via Pakistan. It focuses on solving the Strait crisis first. It suggests that the ceasefire, which US President Donald Trump has increased indefinitely, should be extended for a longer period or the parties would agree on a permanent end to the war.
According to the proposal, the nuclear negotiations would only start at a later stage, after the strait was open and the blockade lifted. The White House has received the proposal, but it's unclear whether the US is willing to explore it, the report said.
"These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the U.S. will not negotiate through the press. As the president has said, the United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told Axios.
The latest ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran appeared to fail Saturday before they began, as Tehran’s top diplomat left Pakistan and President Donald Trump soon afterward said he had told envoys not to travel to Islamabad.
"These messages concern some of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s red lines including nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz," said the Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. "Informed sources emphasize Mr Araghchi is acting entirely within the framework of the specified red lines and the diplomatic duties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
It added that the messages relayed are "unrelated to negotiations" and are "considered an initiative by Iran to clarify the regional situation."
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed that he has two conditions for ending the two-month-long war with Iran. "They know what has to be in the agreement. It's very simple: They cannot have a nuclear weapon, otherwise there's no reason to meet," Trump told Fox News.
On the question of how Iran could reach him, Trump was equally matter of fact. "If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines," he told the program.
Apoorva Shukla is a journalist at Times Now, where she thrives on dissecting political developments both at home and abroad. A graduate of Delhi Univ...View More
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