Iran has indicated that responsibility for the next step in resolving the conflict now lies with the United States, after Washington responded cautiously to Tehran’s newly submitted 14-point peace proposal delivered through Pakistani intermediaries. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that Tehran remains ready to either pursue diplomacy or continue confrontation, emphasising that the direction of events will depend on the US response.
Donald Trump said he would examine the proposal but expressed strong scepticism about its acceptability, arguing that Iran had not yet faced sufficient consequences for its actions. While speaking to reporters and later on social media, he suggested the terms were unlikely to meet US expectations, reinforcing his administration’s firm stance on limiting Iran’s strategic capabilities.
The proposal, reported by Iranian outlets such as Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency, outlines a broad framework aimed at ending hostilities within a defined timeline. Key elements reportedly include the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, the lifting of the American naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian financial assets, compensation measures, and the removal of sanctions. It also calls for halting conflict across multiple fronts, including in Lebanon, and proposes a new mechanism to regulate security and navigation through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
The strait remains central to the dispute, as Iran has maintained restrictions on most shipping routes since the conflict escalated, disrupting a corridor that carries a significant share of global oil and gas supplies. In response, the United States has imposed its own blockade targeting Iranian maritime trade, further intensifying economic pressure on Tehran and contributing to sharp increases in global energy prices.
Washington has consistently maintained that any final agreement must guarantee that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons, which remains the core objective behind its military and diplomatic strategy. Tehran, however, continues to assert that its nuclear programme is intended solely for civilian purposes and has proposed addressing nuclear-related issues at a later stage of negotiations.
Despite an ongoing ceasefire that has been in place since April 8 following earlier hostilities, tensions remain elevated. Trump has signalled that military options are still under consideration, indicating that further action could be taken if Iran’s behaviour is deemed unacceptable.
At the same time, the US has warned international shipping operators that any payments made to Iran in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz—including indirect or non-cash arrangements—could trigger sanctions, underscoring the broader financial and legal risks tied to the ongoing standoff.
With both sides holding firm on key demands and the global economic impact of the crisis continuing to deepen, the situation remains unresolved, with negotiations and potential escalation proceeding in parallel.
