Iran peace – Iran conveyed a response to a U.S. peace proposal via Pakistan, as talks continue over ending the war and access to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran signaled it has responded to a U.S. proposal aimed at bringing an end to the war in the Middle East, according to Iranian state media, underscoring that diplomacy is still in motion even as the conflict grinds on in the Persian Gulf.
Iran’s state news agency reported that the response was delivered through the mediator Pakistan, but it did not spell out what Iran’s message actually contained. The report added that under the proposed plan, negotiations at this stage would center on ending the war in the region.
Even with the stated focus on halting the wider fighting. the two sides continued to exchange fire in the Persian Gulf on Saturday.. The exchange came more than a month after a temporary ceasefire agreement was announced with the initial aim of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. a strategic chokepoint for global energy flows.
Iran has also continued to block ships from passing through the strait, a move that has disrupted critical Gulf oil supplies. That disruption has fed broader uncertainty in global markets, where investors have been watching closely for any signs of a lasting shift in the standoff.
In recent days, markets have moved in a direction that suggests traders may be weighing the prospect of a deal. The report said shares climbed and oil prices fell over the previous week, amid anticipation that an agreement could be close after weeks of talks that included setbacks.
U.S.. officials have said the next steps hinge on clearer answers from Tehran.. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News on Sunday that the United States is still waiting for a “clear resolution” from Iran regarding its latest proposal.. Speaking to Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press. ” Wright said Washington is seeking free movement of traffic through international waters in the Straits of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear program.
Wright also tied potential market relief to the operational reality of the waterway, saying that once there is free flow through the Strait of Hormuz, energy prices would come down.
The pace of diplomacy has also been a point of discussion within the U.S. government. Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told ABC News that negotiations have gone “longer and slower” than anyone would like, while stressing that diplomatic efforts remain underway.
The Strait of Hormuz itself remains a focal point of the confrontation. The report noted vessels near Bandar Abbas, southern Iran, and referenced the continuing tensions around ship movements in and around the narrow passageway.
In parallel with diplomacy, the U.S. military posture toward the region has been in flux. President Donald Trump’s plan for “Project Freedom,” which called for military vessels to escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, was paused last week just days after it was announced.
At the same time, the U.S. has continued its own measures aimed at pressuring Iran. The report said the United States has continued a blockade of Iran’s ports, and that a U.S. intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months.
Trump. speaking in an interview with NBC News on Friday. indicated he did not see the conflict as close to an immediate end.. When asked if the conflict with Iran was over. he said “No. ” adding that it would be over “when it’s over.” He argued that the U.S.. has “won militarily” and suggested the next requirement would be getting Iranian leadership to agree to terms.
Trump’s remarks were also direct about control of the critical waterway, saying the U.S. “really control[s] it” while Iran does not. He said the U.S. has “taken the business away from them,” and described the situation around ships going into Iran.
While the U.S.. president suggested the conflict cannot be resolved on a loose or rushed timeline. he also emphasized the importance of securing a deal aligned with U.S.. interests.. He said he wants to avoid ending up in a situation where the U.S.. cannot strike what he described as a favorable agreement.
Iran’s top diplomacy also framed U.S. actions in harsh terms. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that “every time a diplomatic solution is on the table,” the U.S. chooses what he called a reckless military course, a criticism that reflects the mistrust shaping the negotiations.
Even as talks continue, the pressure campaign appears designed to change Tehran’s calculations over time.. The report said the blockade of Iran’s ports is intended to deprive Tehran of crucial oil revenue. described as the regime’s economic lifeline. with the longer-term aim of forcing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and align with U.S.. demands at the bargaining table.
Iran’s energy production has already been affected by the blockade.. The report stated that Iran has begun cutting back oil production gradually. and that at some point within the next two months the country may run out of storage capacity. potentially forcing it to shut down some wells.. Most analysts cited in the report. however. said Tehran could likely avoid shutting down major wells because a portion of the oil can be consumed domestically. allowing many fields to continue operating.
That distinction matters for how negotiations may evolve.. If Iran believes it can manage the economic squeeze without immediate damage. it could maintain leverage at the negotiating table. prolonging the diplomatic process even as sporadic violence continues.. If storage constraints become more immediate than expected. Iran’s posture could shift toward seeking an exit that restores export routes.
The proposal-and-response channel described in the report also highlights how diplomacy is being threaded through intermediaries while operational pressure continues on the ground.. With talks centered on ending the war and linked to the practical question of access in the Strait of Hormuz. the next phase is likely to turn on whether Iran provides the “clear resolution” the U.S.. says it is waiting for.
For markets. the stakes remain immediate: the Strait of Hormuz is a critical corridor for energy. and the report noted that roughly 20% of the world’s oil passed through the strait before the U.S.. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb.. 28.. Any movement toward reopening the waterway could rapidly change expectations for supply, pricing, and risk across global energy markets.
For U.S.. policymakers, the challenge is balancing time-sensitive economic pressure with negotiations that are still moving more slowly than desired.. The report’s account of ongoing diplomacy alongside paused escort plans and continued port restrictions suggests Washington is pursuing multiple tracks at once. aiming to convert military pressure and shipping realities into a negotiated outcome.
Iran U.S. peace talks Strait of Hormuz Chris Wright Mike Waltz Project Freedom Iranian nuclear program