Washington, April 29 (ANI): Iran has put forward a new diplomatic proposal aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East, offering to halt military operations in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to the U.S. blockade on its maritime hubs, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The proposal, conveyed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through regional intermediaries, is seen as an effort to break the current deadlock and revive stalled negotiations.
Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that the framework could involve shelving talks related to Iran’s nuclear program, at least in the initial phase. Iran’s mission to the United Nations has not yet issued an official statement on the proposal.
The diplomatic initiative gained momentum following Araghchi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed support for efforts to resolve the conflict through dialogue.
In Washington, officials are reviewing the proposal. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump has discussed the framework with his national security advisers.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that while Iran appears “serious about making a deal,” Washington does not support any arrangement that would grant Tehran full control over the strategic waterway.
Tensions escalated earlier this month after the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, responding to what it described as Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Iran’s proposal outlines a three-stage de-escalation plan. The first phase calls for the United States and Israel to end hostilities and provide guarantees against future conflict.
Subsequently, neutral mediators would oversee the reopening of the Strait and work toward a long-term framework for managing the waterway.
However, a key point of contention remains Iran’s reported insistence on maintaining sovereignty over the Strait before engaging in broader negotiations, including discussions on its nuclear program and regional activities.
Analysts have expressed skepticism about the proposal’s viability. Raz Zimmt of Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies said unresolved issues at the end of the conflict are unlikely to be settled afterward.
International mediators are encouraging continued back-channel communication between Tehran and Washington as efforts continue to reach a possible agreement. Initial details of the proposal were first reported by Axios. (ANI)
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