After a weekend of stalemate malaise, Iran reportedly offers new proposal for opening ship traffic, while postponing the thorny nuclear issue
Trump says peace could come via telephone rather than face-to-face meetings
Iranian FM has been sending written messages to US via Pakistani intermediaries
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi visits Russia for talks with President Putin
Trump says Iranian oil infrastructure could explode from within unless flow resumes
Running a little ahead of schedule,Sunday evening brought this week's infusion of pre-Monday-open optimismabout prospects of ending the US-Israel war on Iran. Axios' Barak Ravid, a veteran of Israeli intelligence who routinely posts anonymously-sourced scoops,reportedthatIran has presented a new proposal for opening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the shooting-- though Iran's concept includes a potential non-starter via a proposedpostponement of nuclear negotiations.No details were reported, beyond the notion of either an extended ceasefire or permanent end of the war that would accompany a full reopening of the strait.
Earlier on Sunday,President Trump said face-to-face discussions with the Iranians weren't essential to ending the war. "If they want to talk, they can come to us, orthey can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines," he toldFox News. "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."
Sunday's micro-dose of hope capped a weekend in which negotiations were perceived asgrinding to a clear stalematemarked by a lack of warfare but also a continued choking of traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Trump's lead negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, were poised to travel to Islamabad for another round of negotiations with the Iranians whenTrump nixed their tripat the last minute.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi:Incorrect approaches and excessive demands by the U.S. caused the previous round of talks—despite progress—not to reach its objectives.pic.twitter.com/Bt7ikClaoe
Iran'sFarsnews agency reported thatAraghchi has "conveyed written messages regarding Iran’s red lines to the American sidethrough Pakistani intermediaries."
Source: ZeroHedge News
