Iran Reviews U.S. Peace Proposal as Talks Advance Amid Unresolved Nuclear and Hormuz Disputes

Mintesinot Niggusie

Iran said on Wednesday it is reviewing a U.S. peace proposal that, according to sources, would formally end the war but leave unresolved key U.S. demands that Iran suspend its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Sources briefed on the mediation said the proposal is structured around a one-page memorandum that would formally end the conflict, which began on February 28, and set the stage for broader negotiations on outstanding issues.

The main points of dispute include Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route that previously handled about one-fifth of global oil and gas flows.

A foreign ministry spokesperson said Tehran would convey its response, while U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed an agreement was still possible after what he described as productive discussions. “They want to make a deal. We’ve had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Earlier, Trump struck a more cautious tone, warning in a Truth Social post that he could restart the U.S. bombing campaign in Iran and calling the prospect of acceptance of the proposal a “big assumption.”

If both sides agree on the preliminary memorandum, a Pakistani source and another source familiar with the mediation said it would trigger 30 days of detailed negotiations toward a comprehensive agreement. That broader deal would include lifting U.S. sanctions on Iran, unfreezing Iranian assets, easing competing blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and introducing limits on Iran’s nuclear programme.

However, the initial framework does not include several long-standing U.S. demands, such as restrictions on Iran’s missile programme and an end to its support for regional proxy militias, according to the sources. There was also no mention of Iran’s stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of near-weapons-grade uranium.

The mediation effort is being led by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, the sources said. If the preliminary deal is accepted, it would begin a 30-day period of negotiations aimed at reaching a final settlement. Diplomatic activity has coincided with military developments in the region. Trump on Tuesday paused a two-day-old naval mission intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in peace talks.

NBC News reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that the decision followed Saudi Arabia’s suspension of U.S. military access to a base used in the operation. Saudi officials were said to have objected to the mission and restricted access to airspace and facilities.