US and Iranian officials have resumed indirect contacts through mediators as efforts intensify to find a way out of the seven-month war, with further discussions expected to focus on an amended version of Iran’s latest ceasefire proposal.
An official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters that the discussions could centre on a revised version of a seven-day plan presented by Iran last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The latest diplomatic push comes after two previous ceasefire agreements reached through mediated talks in April and June quickly collapsed.
The conflict began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, killing thousands of people and disrupting global markets as fighting and restrictions affected major waterways used for global oil shipments.
Iran awaits US response to ceasefire proposal
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remained in New York after attending the UN General Assembly and said Tehran was waiting for Washington’s response to its latest proposals.
According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Araghchi said Iran was also awaiting the US position on conditions for restoring maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
“If the Americans claim they are seeking an agreement or a peaceful solution, we have presented that solution,” Araghchi said.
The Iranian proposal calls for an immediate end to hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets, the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports.
In return, Iran would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen, restoring passage through one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments.
The proposal also calls for the two sides to resume negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme and the issue of its highly enriched uranium.
Iran keeps door open to diplomacy while standing firm on Hormuz conditions
Trump rejects proposal but leaves door open
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran’s proposal, arguing that Tehran was seeking a quick agreement because of the severe economic pressure it faces.
However, Trump later told Axios that US negotiators were expected to hold further discussions this week.
Trump also confirmed on Monday that US officials had spoken separately with mediators, although he did not provide details about the discussions.
Araghchi said Iranian mediators had not formally communicated a US rejection of the proposal. He said Tehran was waiting for Washington to provide a definitive position before deciding how to proceed.
“Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met,” Araghchi said.
He added that only a negotiated agreement could resolve the current impasse, keeping the possibility of further indirect diplomacy open despite the differences between Washington and Tehran.
