Iran-U.S. Peace Talks Stall as Tehran Reviews Washington’s Counter-Response
CNBC reported Sunday that Iran confirmed receiving a U.S. reply to its latest ceasefire offer, relayed through Pakistan, even as both sides remain deeply divided over terms.
Tehran said it was reviewing Washington’s counter-response to a 14-point proposal submitted Thursday. There was no immediate confirmation from U.S. or Pakistani officials.
A Deal Still Out of Reach
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state media that nuclear negotiations are not currently on the table. Tehran’s framework proposes resolving the active conflict and the competing Gulf shipping blockades first. Nuclear talks would follow in a later phase.
That sequencing clashes directly with Washington’s core demand. The U.S. wants Iran to agree to strict limits on its nuclear program before any ceasefire takes hold. American officials have specifically called for the surrender of Iran’s stockpile of more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, which they say is sufficient material for a weapon.
Iran denies its nuclear activities have a military purpose. It has previously signaled willingness to accept some restrictions in exchange for sanctions relief, mirroring terms from the 2015 accord that President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term.
Background: How the Conflict Reached This Point
The U.S. and Israel halted their bombing campaign against Iran roughly four weeks ago. One round of diplomatic talks followed, but efforts to schedule further sessions have repeatedly collapsed.
Iran has blocked nearly all non-Iranian commercial shipping through the Gulf for more than two months. The U.S. responded last month with its own blockade targeting vessels from Iranian ports. Together, the rival blockades have choked off roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies, driving up gasoline prices inside the United States.
Trump faces political pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before November midterm elections. Higher fuel costs risk triggering a voter backlash against his Republican Party.
Trump Keeps Options Open
On Saturday, Trump said he had not yet studied the exact language of Iran’s proposal but was inclined to reject it. He wrote on social media that Iran had not “paid a big enough price” over the past 47 years. He later told reporters he was awaiting the full written text before making a final decision.
Asked directly whether renewed airstrikes were possible, Trump declined to rule them out. Iran’s 14-point plan also calls for U.S. troop withdrawals from the region, asset releases, compensation payments, sanctions removal, and a new joint mechanism governing traffic through the strait.
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