TEHRAN, May 2: An Iranian official said a new proposal—rejected by US President Donald Trump—would reopen shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade on Iran while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage.
The plan is part of ongoing efforts to resolve a conflict that has significantly disrupted global energy flows. The war began after the United States and Israel launched strikes in February amid stalled nuclear talks. Since then, Iran has restricted most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing only limited passage for its own vessels.
The United States responded last month by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports, further escalating tensions in the Gulf, a key global energy corridor.
Trump said on Friday he was “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest proposal, without giving details, and added that Tehran was demanding terms he could not accept.
Washington has repeatedly stated that any agreement must ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, which was a central justification for the US strikes. Iran, however, maintains its nuclear programme is peaceful.
The Iranian official, speaking anonymously, said the revised proposal marks a significant shift in approach. It envisions ending the war with mutual guarantees that Iran, the United States, and Israel would not resume attacks.
In exchange, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the US would lift its maritime blockade. Under this framework, nuclear negotiations would be deferred until a later phase, once immediate de-escalation is achieved.
Those talks would then address limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. Iran has indicated willingness to suspend uranium enrichment but insists it retains the right to pursue peaceful nuclear energy.
The proposal aims to separate urgent security issues from longer-term nuclear disputes, creating what Tehran describes as a more stable environment for eventual negotiations. (Agencies)
