TEHRAN/WASHINGTON – Iran has submitted a fresh two-stage peace proposal to the United States through Pakistani mediators, seeking to break the diplomatic deadlock by prioritizing the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz while postponing nuclear negotiations .
According to a report published on April 26 by Axios and confirmed by multiple sources, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed the plan to Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari mediators during weekend talks in Islamabad . The proposal calls for either extending the current ceasefire for a prolonged period or converting it into a permanent end to the war. Nuclear negotiations would only begin after the strait is reopened and the US naval blockade is lifted .
The initiative comes as Iran’s leadership remains deeply divided over how to address Washington’s demands—which include suspending uranium enrichment for at least a decade and removing the country’s enriched uranium stockpile . By separating the Hormuz crisis from the nuclear file, Tehran appears to be seeking a faster de-escalation deal.
The White House has received the proposal but has not signaled whether it is willing to explore it . President Donald Trump is expected to hold a Situation Room meeting on Iran on Monday with his top national security team to discuss the stalemate and potential next steps . Trump has signaled he prefers maintaining the naval blockade to pressure Tehran, saying Iran may have “about three days” before facing internal economic collapse .
Pakistan has emerged as the main intermediary in the latest diplomatic exchange . However, diplomatic momentum has faced hurdles—Trump recently scrapped a planned visit by his envoys to Islamabad, saying the Iranians “can call us if they want” . Meanwhile, Araghchi has continued shuttle diplomacy, traveling to Oman and Russia for further consultations
