TEHRAN, Iran: Iran has received and is reviewing the United States’ response to its 14-point proposal aimed at ending the conflict, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed on Monday, signalling progress in Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts.
Speaking at a news conference, Baqaei said Tehran would convey its position through Pakistani mediators once the review is complete.
“We have received the American side’s response and are reviewing it, and we will definitely announce our views through the Pakistani mediation as soon as we reach a conclusion,” Baqaei told a news conference cited by the state-run IRNA news agency.
The spokesperson said that media reports about negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program are “mostly speculation”.
“The issues raised about enrichment or nuclear materials are purely speculative, and at this stage we are not talking about anything other than the complete end of the war, and the direction we will take in the future will be determined in the future,” he added.
A two-week ceasefire was announced on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, followed by direct talks in Islamabad on April 11, but no agreement was reached on a lasting truce.
US President Donald Trump later extended the ceasefire without setting a new deadline, following a request from Pakistan.
Iranian state media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal called for the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran’s borders, an end to US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and a halt to hostilities, including Israel’s offensive in Lebanon.
The proposal also sought an agreement between the US and Iran within 30 days and urged a focus on ending the war rather than prolonging a temporary ceasefire, Iran’s state media reported.
Iran’s nuclear programme
Iran’s proposal was drafted in response to a nine-point US plan that envisaged a two-month ceasefire, according to Tasnim News Agency.
On Saturday, Trump said he was reviewing a new proposal from Iran aimed at ending the conflict, indicating continued diplomatic engagement despite differences between Washington and Tehran.
Speaking to reporters, Trump indicated that the proposal’s exact wording was being examined and would be assessed before any formal response.
“They just told me about the concept of the proposal, …we’ll be looking into it word by word,” he added in response to a reporter’s question.
Meanwhile, Al Arabiya reported on Sunday, while citing sources, that Iran has dropped some of its previous conditions and agreed to include its nuclear programme in talks with the US to end the conflict.
The shift marks a change from Iran’s previous position that nuclear discussions should be postponed.
A senior Iranian official, cited by Reuters, said on Saturday that Tehran’s earlier proposal focused on reopening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and ending a US naval blockade of Iranian ports, with nuclear negotiations to be discussed at a later stage.
However, sources cited by Al Arabiya said Iran has now agreed to discuss its nuclear programme, proposing to cap uranium enrichment at 3.5 percent and gradually reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Tehran has also proposed a phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of the US naval blockade, according to Al Arabiya, citing sources.
Instead, Tehran is now seeking an end to the US military build-up near its borders and international guarantees against future attacks, the Arab media outlet reported while citing informed sources.
Pakistan’s role highlights its continued engagement in supporting diplomatic communication channels during the crisis.
Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts
Meanwhile, Pakistan continued diplomatic efforts to end the regional war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
In April, Pakistan hosted the high-stakes first round of US-Iran talks in Islamabad. Pakistan also helped broker the ceasefire to end the Iran war.
Trump said talks were currently being conducted by phone after he called off a planned visit by US envoys to Pakistan.
“I have great respect for Pakistan and for the Field Marshal (Syed Asim Munir) and the Prime Minister (Shehbaz Sharif),” he said.
Pakistan has played a key role in facilitating dialogue between the US and Iran, including hosting the first high-level contact in decades last month in Islamabad.
However, efforts to convene a second round have faced delays, and officials acknowledge significant differences remain.
