US Weighs Iran’s Hormuz Plan as Middle East War Talks Stall

The United States is reviewing a fresh proposal from Iran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, even as negotiations to end the Middle East conflict remain unresolved.

White House officials said the proposal, delivered via Pakistan, is under consideration following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his top security advisers.

According to Iranian reports, the proposal outlines Tehran’s conditions on key issues, including nuclear activities and control of the vital shipping route.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed the plan was “being discussed,” while Secretary of State Marco Rubio described it as unexpectedly constructive but urged caution.

“It’s better than what we thought they were going to submit,” Rubio said, adding that any agreement must prevent Iran from advancing toward nuclear weapons.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Washington of undermining earlier negotiations.

“The US approaches caused the previous round of negotiations, despite progress, to fail to reach its goals because of the excessive demands,” he said during a visit to Russia, where President Vladimir Putin pledged support.

Diplomatic efforts have faced setbacks, including the cancellation of a planned visit by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Trump said Iran could initiate talks if it wished to proceed.

The conflict, sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February, has disrupted global energy supplies. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up prices of oil and other commodities, while Washington has imposed countermeasures targeting Iranian ports.

Iranian officials have indicated no intention of easing control of the strait, with proposals to regulate passage and impose fees drawing criticism from international bodies.

Arsenio Dominguez, head of the UN maritime agency, said there is “no legal basis” for such charges, while Rubio rejected the idea outright.

“They cannot normalise — nor can we tolerate them trying to normalise — a system in which the Iranians decide who gets to use an international waterway, and how much you have to pay them to use it,” he said.

Despite a ceasefire, tensions persist across the region, including in Lebanon where clashes between Israel and Hezbollah continue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Hezbollah remains a threat, while the group’s leader Naim Qassem rejected talks with Israel.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz cautioned that “Qassem is playing with fire,” as the conflict risks further escalation.

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