Iran drops blockade demand in bid to restart high-stakes U.S. talks
Earlier, Tehran demanded that the United States first lift the blockade and agree on terms to end the war. (Photo: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)
Tehran has dropped its demand that Washington lift its
blockade before negotiations begin, instead proposing parallel talks on
reopening the Strait of Hormuz, security guarantees and Iran’s nuclear program,
The
Wall Street Journal reported.
The shift does not close the deep gap between the two sides.
Washington and Tehran remain sharply divided, especially over the Strait of
Hormuz and the future of Iran’s nuclear program. But Iran’s revised position
could create an opening to restart talks, the newspaper reported.
Tehran had previously insisted that the United States first
lift the blockade and agree on terms to end the war before the two sides moved
to questions over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.
Under the new proposal, Iran wants those issues handled
together: reopening the strait, guarantees that U.S. attacks will stop and the
lifting of the blockade on Iranian ports.
Tehran is also prepared to discuss its nuclear program in
exchange for easing or lifting U.S. sanctions.
Iran has signaled through intermediaries that it is ready to
hold a new round of talks in Pakistan as early as the beginning of next week if
Washington accepts the new proposal as a basis for negotiations, WSJ reported.
Earlier reports said Iran had passed Pakistan the text of a
new plan for talks with the United States. Its core demand remains ending the
war and finding a framework for a peace settlement.
Trump has already criticized Tehran’s latest offer. He said
he was unhappy with the document and doubted a quick deal was possible, though
he did not specify which provisions he opposed.
Politico, meanwhile, reported that Trump had informed
Congress that the war with Iran was over. The notification was tied to a 60-day
deadline after which a military operation must end unless lawmakers separately
authorize it.
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