United States: The United States and Iran have resumed indirect diplomatic contacts through mediators as both sides seek to revive efforts to end a seven-month conflict, with discussions focused on an amended version of Tehran’s latest seven-day ceasefire proposal, Reuters reported on Monday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remained in New York after the United Nations General Assembly and said Tehran was awaiting Washington’s response to its proposal, including conditions for restoring maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, killing thousands of people and disrupting global markets as shipping through key oil routes was affected.
What is the latest proposal for ending the conflict?
Iran’s seven-day proposal calls for an end to hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets, an end to sanctions on Iranian oil and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
In return, Iran would allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments. The two sides would also resume negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and Washington’s demands concerning Tehran’s highly enriched uranium.
The United States and Iran have previously reached ceasefire agreements through mediated talks in April and June, but both arrangements subsequently collapsed.
Why are Washington and Tehran continuing talks?
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran’s proposal, arguing that Tehran was seeking a swift agreement because of mounting economic pressure.
However, Trump later told Axios that US negotiators were expected to hold further talks with Iran this week.
Araghchi said on Sunday that mediators had not formally conveyed a US rejection and that Tehran was awaiting Washington’s definitive position before deciding its next steps.
Iran has maintained that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would depend on its conditions being met and that the dispute could only be resolved through negotiations.