Tehran and Washington continue to exchange signals through the mediation of Pakistan, seeking to produce a framework agreement. According to ISNA, consultations are in full swing, but several remaining disagreements have not yet been resolved. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi remains in Tehran to continue meetings. According to the Iranian outlet Noor News, the correspondence is based on an Iranian proposal consisting of 14 points.
During his visit, Naqvi met with senior Iranian officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Official sources in Tehran note that differences are narrowing, although a final agreement has not yet been reached. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei emphasized that the talks are focused on ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, but did not go into details about the disputed points.
In Washington, the US president rejected the possibility that Iran would charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, calling it an "international waterway." He also reiterated that the US will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons, and said bluntly: "We will take the highly enriched uranium. We don't need it, maybe we'll destroy it, but we will not let it remain with them." Earlier, Western media reported that Iran's Supreme Leader had ordered that uranium stocks not be moved abroad, but Tehran officially denied that information.
Against the backdrop of ongoing talks, the sensitive key issues remain Iran's uranium enrichment program and Tehran's control over the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistani mediation is expected to intensify, with a possible visit to Tehran by Pakistan Army Chief of Staff Asim Munir. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted "some positive signals" in the talks but warned against excessive optimism: "I don't want to sound too optimistic — let's wait and see what happens in the coming days."
The domestic political situation in the US is also having an impact: House Republicans canceled a vote on a resolution that would limit Trump's war powers against Iran due to a lack of votes. This reflects a split in the party over constraining the president. Meanwhile, the Navy command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that in 24 hours 31 commercial vessels, including oil tankers, passed through the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian coordination and protection, while the US has been blocking Iranian ports since April 13.
Comments on the news
- Why is Pakistan acting as intermediary in talks between Iran and the US, rather than traditional countries like Oman or Qatar? – Pakistan has long-standing diplomatic and economic ties with Iran and is also a nuclear state, which gives it weight. In addition, Pakistan maintains certain channels of communication with the US (for example, in the context of Afghanistan) and can act as a neutral party less entangled in Middle Eastern regional conflicts. Oman and Qatar remain active mediators, but in some cases Iran and the US may choose different players to reduce pressure or test new dialogue formats.
- Who is Abbas Araghchi and why is his participation in the talks important for understanding Iran's diplomacy on the nuclear program? – Abbas Araghchi is an experienced Iranian diplomat who served as deputy foreign minister and the leading negotiator on the nuclear deal (JCPOA) in 2013–2015. His involvement signals Tehran's seriousness: Araghchi knows the technical details of the nuclear program, the structure of sanctions, and Western positions. He is also considered a pragmatic figure in the Iranian establishment, making him someone capable of seeking compromises.
- What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and what role does it play in controlling the Strait of Hormuz and protecting commercial vessels? – The IRGC (Sepâh-e Pâsdârân-e Enghelâb-e Eslâmi) is an elite military formation of Iran, created after the 1979 revolution to defend the Islamic regime. It has its own land, air, and naval forces, including the IRGC Navy, which is responsible for operations in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world's oil passes through this strait, and the IRGC controls strategic points to protect Iranian interests as well as to potentially close the strait in case of conflict. In recent years the IRGC has also escorted Iranian and allied commercial vessels to prevent their interception or inspection by Western navies.
Full version: واشنطن وطهران تواصلان تبادل الرسائل وروبيو يتحدث عن "مؤشرات جيدة"