Iran Proposes Hormuz Deal to US but Delays Nuclear Talks Until After War

Iran deal negotiations shifted this weekend as Tehran submitted a revised proposal through Pakistani intermediaries. The plan prioritizes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war first, with nuclear talks postponed until after the blockade lifts. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed the framework during meetings in Islamabad, marking a potential turning point in the stalled Iran deal discussions between Washington and Tehran.

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Iran Deal Framework Focuses on Strait of Hormuz Before Nuclear Talk

The proposal represents a tactical shift in how Iran approaches the Iran deal. Rather than addressing all issues simultaneously, Iranian officials now suggest a phased approach. Araghchi told Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari mediators that no consensus exists within Iranian leadership on how to address US demands regarding nuclear programs, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

Iran Deal Sequencing Removes Trump’s Leverage

The framework calls for extending the current ceasefire or converting it into a permanent end to Trump’s war. Once the Strait of Hormuz reopens, nuclear talks would begin at a later stage. This sequencing creates leverage problems for President Trump, who wants Iran to suspend enrichment for at least a decade and remove its stockpile before lifting economic pressure.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales had this to say:

“These are sensitive diplomatic discussions and the US will not negotiate through the press. As the president has said, the United States holds the cards and will only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

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Trump canceled his envoys’ Pakistan trip Saturday after Iranian officials were noncommittal about meeting. Iran responded within 10 minutes with what Trump called a “much better” proposal. Trump stated:

“Interestingly, immediately, when I canceled it, within 10 minutes, we got a new paper that was much better. Iran offered a lot but not enough.”

Trump is expected to hold a Situation Room Meeting Monday with his national security team to discuss the stalemate and potential next steps. The ceasefire has largely held since early April, though both countries maintain blockades that have made the Strait of Hormuz virtually impassable. The disruption affects roughly 20 percent of global oil flows, which the International Energy Agency called the biggest supply shock in history.

Trump signaled in a Fox News interview Sunday that he wants to continue the naval blockade. He said:

“When you have vast amounts of oil pouring through your system, if for any reason this line is closed because you can’t put it into containers or ships, what happens is that line explodes from within. They say they only have about three days before that happens.”

Beyond the Iran Deal: Regional Issues Complicate Nuclear Talks

Beyond reopening the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear talks, other disagreements complicate a comprehensive agreement. Trump wants limits on Iran’s support for regional proxies and restrictions on Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities. Iran wants sanctions lifted and an end to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah. Trump’s war objectives center on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, though lifting the blockade before securing nuclear concessions would remove his main leverage in future negotiations.

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Multiple regional mediators have been involved in facilitating the Iran deal discussions, including officials from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and Oman. Araghchi traveled from Islamabad to Muscat on Sunday for additional talks before heading to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.