Iran has put forward a new proposal to the United States through Pakistani intermediaries that envisages addressing issues in stages. According to Axios, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi discussed the plan during a visit to Islamabad. The main idea is to split the talks into three separate blocks, starting with a cessation of hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while deferring the nuclear issue to a later stage.
Researcher Hossein Royouran revealed details of the three-step Iranian initiative. The first stage envisages a complete end to aggression, not merely an extension of a ceasefire. The second stage is the priority reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The third stage is negotiations on the nuclear program. As part of a compromise, Tehran is prepared to lower uranium enrichment from 60% to 20%, but only in exchange for sanctions relief, compensation payments, and the unfreezing of assets.
The key difference of the new approach from previous ones is the separation of dossiers, whereas Washington insists on linking all issues to the nuclear program. Araqchi acknowledged a lack of consensus within Iran’s leadership regarding President Trump’s demands on enriched uranium. The new plan is intended to overcome internal divisions, although official Tehran has not yet confirmed presenting it, stressing only the role of Pakistani mediation.
The White House reaction remains cautious. The press secretary described these consultations as “sensitive diplomatic discussions,” saying the final decision rests with Washington. The US continues to insist on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Trump plans a separate meeting to discuss the Iranian proposal and military options, while analysts warn: “the devil is in the details.”
Experts note serious obstacles. The main one is the US unwillingness to agree to an indefinite truce without guarantees on the nuclear program. Washington may temporarily extend a ceasefire, but is not prepared for an endless pause that would give Iran the opportunity to continue enriching uranium. The central question remains: which will become the priority — the nuclear dossier, as the US wants, or the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran proposes.
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Why does Iran insist on reopening the Strait of Hormuz as a separate negotiation stage, and what strategic significance does it have for Tehran? — The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s “oil throat,” through which about 20% of global oil traffic passes. For Iran, control over it is not only an economic matter (revenues from transit and exports) but also a lever of military-political pressure. Making this issue a separate stage allows Tehran to link it to other topics (for example, sanctions relief) and obtain concrete concessions before more complex issues, such as the nuclear program, are discussed.
Why did Iran choose Pakistan as a mediator, rather than, for example, Oman or Qatar, which previously played that role in Iran–US contacts? — Choosing Pakistan may be related to its special relations with China (a strategic ally of Iran) and Saudi Arabia (regional rivals but also Pakistan’s partner). Unlike Oman and Qatar, which traditionally acted as “postmen” between Washington and Tehran, Pakistan offers a broader regional context — for example, assistance in stabilizing Afghanistan or in energy transit. In addition, Islamabad has diplomatic channels with both sides but is not associated with the Gulf’s “pro-Western” monarchies.
Who is Hossein Royouran, and why is his analysis of the Iranian plan considered authoritative in the absence of official confirmation? — Hossein Royouran is a former senior official of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (including serving as Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan) and a well-known analyst close to conservative circles. In Iran, public figures with experience in the Foreign Ministry or “intelligence councils” (for example, the Supreme National Security Council) often have informal authority: their leaks or comments are perceived as “trial balloons” — signals that authorities want to send to the audience while avoiding direct responsibility. His analysis is important because it reflects the viewpoint of the conservative wing that influences the decisions of the Supreme Leader.
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