Revised Proposal for Dialogue Between Washington and Tehran
Middlemen between Iran and the United States have intensified their efforts to revive stalled diplomacy between the two sides, in an attempt to urge Tehran to make explicit concessions on its nuclear program, thereby enabling the resumption of war-ending negotiations, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the prevention of renewed fighting between the parties.
Amid limited signs of a diplomatic breakthrough and with both sides holding divergent positions, the Wall Street Journal cited sources involved in the talks as saying that mediators have asked Tehran to take clear steps to restrict its nuclear program, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s insistence that this is the central issue in any path toward understanding.
The American newspaper quoted mediators as stating that Tehran has not yet provided significant indications of willingness to make concessions on its nuclear program, while Iranian officials are demanding corresponding steps from Washington, including lifting the naval blockade, removing sanctions on oil sales, unfreezing assets, and halting war on regional fronts before any progress is made in negotiations.
Sources indicated that Tehran insists on refusing to link a ceasefire or any de-escalation arrangements to a process aimed at securing its right to possess a nuclear program for peaceful purposes, particularly given U.S. discussions about the future of the nuclear program as a whole, rather than merely enrichment levels or technical restrictions.
Although prospects for opening even a temporary window to revive the diplomatic track and avoid a full-scale war have diminished, Reuters cited a well-informed source as saying that mediators are expected to hold separate talks with the United States and Iran within 48 hours.
Information indicated that talks between Tehran and Washington would focus on a revised version of the seven-day proposal submitted by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi through the Qatari mediator, concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Trump rejected last Saturday.
Following Trump’s prediction that negotiations with Tehran would resume this week, an Iranian source denied today that new talks would be held between the two countries. The Iranian news agency (IRNA) quoted a source close to the Iranian delegation in New York, as part of the United Nations General Assembly meetings, as claiming that the delegation “does not intend to conduct negotiations with the Americans.”
This came as Trump stated in comments to Fox News that he does not rule out additional military strikes against Iran before the midterm elections scheduled for November, but he noted he did not wish to discuss it at the present time, seemingly referring to his administration’s focus on the elections and its reluctance to fuel rhetorical escalation that would serve Tehran’s efforts to sow anxiety in financial markets alongside rising oil prices.
Trump reiterated his assertion that “the bottom line is that Iran will not have nuclear weapons; that is the essence of the matter.”
Araghchi had previously proposed to Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that the strait be reopened and nuclear talks resumed within a week, provided that the United States lifts its naval blockade, cancels sanctions on oil sales, and reinstates the ceasefire in the region.
Meanwhile, the Iranian currency recorded an unprecedented drop in the parallel market, with its exchange rate reaching 240,000 tomans per dollar. Tehran has filed a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding U.S. sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector, after several countries, including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, refused to receive any flights from Iranian airlines.
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) denied the validity of claims made by Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Hossein Mobahi, who asserted that Iran controls the entrances and exits of the Strait of Hormuz and hinted that sailors can only use routes designated by its navy. CENTCOM described these assertions as “baseless,” stating that Iran does not control the strait and that the waterway remains open to commercial shipping for transit, supported and protected by the United States, regardless of Iran’s threats and attacks, which have depleted its naval forces.
Mobahi had previously claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is not merely closed but serves as a hunting ground for U.S. drones and a site for seizing technology and intelligence. His remarks were accompanied by a message attributed to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, which hinted at attacking U.S. ships and warships in the Arabian Sea and reaffirmed what it described as “support for maintaining control over Hormuz.”
In a related development, U.S. officials told NBC News that eight U.S. Marines were injured two weeks ago when an Iranian missile struck the ship they were aboard in the Strait of Hormuz.
The network quoted three officials as saying the attack was carried out using a cruise missile and that the soldiers’ injuries were not life-threatening, though they suffered from smoke inhalation and exhibited symptoms of concussion.
Information indicated that the attacked vessel was not military. This followed claims by a Revolutionary Guard commander that his forces had succeeded for the first time in detonating a projectile above a U.S. ship. During recent military confrontations, CENTCOM attributed part of the attacks to Iranian attempts to target U.S. vessels.
Separately, the Iranian regime firmly distanced itself from speculation linking it to the incident at RAF Fairford airbase in Britain. British police began questioning five people suspected of involvement in explosives and terrorism-related offenses after arresting them near the base, which the United States has used to launch airstrikes against Iran.
This came as British Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed that his country would stand against a “nuclear Iran” through economic sanctions and would take action against Tehran’s proxies, while continuing to isolate Iran until it reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
