A source familiar with the matter told on Sunday that Tehran had sent its response to Washington’s latest proposal via Pakistani intermediaries. However, the exact contents of Iran’s reply were not immediately disclosed.
AFP reported that “Iran today sent its response to the United States’ latest proposal through Pakistani mediators.”
According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s response emphasized ending the war and ensuring security in the Persian Gulf, including the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Al Jazeera further reported that Pakistani officials confirmed receiving Tehran’s response and relaying it onward. U.S. officials reportedly said that further steps could be taken after receiving the message by telephone from Pakistan, raising the possibility of another round of direct talks between Iran and the United States.
Diplomatic observers believe there is now renewed momentum toward a potential agreement between the two sides. The coming days are expected to be crucial and will largely depend on how Washington responds to Tehran’s latest position.
The United States and Iran have exchanged several rounds of proposals in recent weeks in an effort to reach a formal peace agreement and officially end hostilities. However, no final consensus has yet been achieved.
Last week, Washington reportedly sent Tehran a 14-point proposal and had expected a response by Friday, but Iran did not meet that deadline.
Meanwhile, tensions in and around the Strait of Hormuz escalated again on Thursday, with forces from both sides engaging in scattered confrontations.
On Friday, the United States claimed it had disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers, while Iran announced the seizure of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on the same day.
The conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran retaliated with strikes on Israel and on several U.S. military bases across the Middle East.
After 40 days of fighting, Iran and the United States agreed to a temporary ceasefire on April 8 through Pakistani mediation. Senior officials from both countries later held nearly 21 hours of talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, but the meeting ended without a breakthrough. Discussions are ongoing regarding a second round of negotiations.
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