Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the United States lifts its blockade and moves to resolve the ongoing conflict, while suggesting that negotiations over its nuclear program be delayed, according to two regional officials.
The proposal, delivered to U.S. officials through Pakistan, would leave unresolved the nuclear disputes that prompted American and Israeli strikes. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said U.S. President Donald Trump appears unlikely to accept the terms.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration’s security team met on Monday to discuss the proposal but offered no further details, leaving it to Trump to address the matter later.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 7 and was extended indefinitely last week. Despite the pause in fighting, tensions remain high over the narrow waterway, which in peacetime carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas. The U.S. blockade is intended to stop Iran from exporting oil, cutting off a key source of revenue and potentially forcing production shutdowns due to limited storage capacity.
The disruption has driven up global energy costs. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded at about $108 per barrel on Monday, nearly 50% higher than pre-war levels. Rising fuel prices have also increased costs for food, fertilizer, and other essentials, adding economic pressure worldwide and complicating the political landscape for Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
Iran’s proposal would postpone negotiations over its nuclear program, an issue central to the U.S. justification for the conflict. Tehran insists its nuclear activities are peaceful, while Washington has demanded the removal of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The offer emerged during weekend talks between Iranian and Pakistani officials, just ahead of a visit by Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to Russia. Araghchi arrived in St. Petersburg on Monday for meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.
“It is a good opportunity for us to consult with our Russian friends about the developments that have occurred in relation to the war during this period and what is happening now,” Araghchi said, the Associated Press reported.
Pakistan has sought to revive stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations, with discussions expected in Islamabad. However, Trump canceled a planned trip by his envoys, opting instead for possible phone discussions. He told reporters Saturday that Iran had submitted a “much better” proposal, but his administration insists that it will “only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Axios reported.
Over the weekend, Araghchi also visited Oman, which shares control of the strait, and held calls with officials in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Iran is pressuring Oman to support a toll system for vessels transiting the waterway, according to a regional official involved in mediation efforts.
That official said Iran is insisting the U.S. end its blockade before any new negotiations begin, while Pakistani mediators continue working to bridge significant gaps between the two sides.
The Trump administration has not publicly responded to the latest proposal and is expected to review options during a Situation Room meeting.
In Europe, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sharply criticized the situation, saying the United States is being “humiliated” by Iran.
“An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards,” Merz said, PBS News reported.
He added that he does not see a clear U.S. exit strategy and warned that Iran is obviously “negotiating very skillfully — or rather, very skillfully not negotiating.” He urged a swift end to the conflict due to its economic impact on Germany.
Araghchi, writing on X after visiting Pakistan, said: “Very fruitful visit to Pakistan, whose good offices and brotherly efforts to bring back peace to our region we very much value. Shared Iran’s position concerning workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran. Have yet to see if the US is truly serious about diplomacy.”
