(Image source from: Dailypioneer.com)
Iran has put forward a plan with three steps for talks if the United States wants to continue discussing peace, according to local news. This comes after both parties ended the second round of discussions in Pakistan. The conditions set by Iran focus on ending the war, issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, and the nuclear matter. Al Madayeen reported that Iran told the US through intermediaries that for talks to start again successfully, they must follow these three phases:
First, there needs to be a complete end to the war, along with assurances that it will not start again against Iran and Lebanon. If both sides agree to the first phase, the second phase would involve discussions about how to manage the important marine route, the Strait of Hormuz. Only after completing these two phases will Iran talk about nuclear matters. This is important because the US has long insisted that Iran halt uranium enrichment and relocate its nuclear stockpile.
In reaction to the proposal, White House spokesperson Olivia Wales mentioned to Axios that "these are delicate talks, and the US will not be discussing them through the media. As the president has stated, the US is in control and will only agree to a deal that prioritizes the American people, ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons. " This framework came as the second round of talks between Iran and the US in Pakistan ended without agreement, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visiting twice but refusing to engage directly with Washington. Trump, in response, remarked that there would be "no more 18-hour flights" for his envoys, suggesting that talks could be done via phone. Araghchi recently visited Oman, located across the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and returned briefly to Islamabad on Sunday. He has now traveled to Russia, where he is set to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss new developments regarding negotiations and the ceasefire in the Middle East.
Trump is expected to hold a meeting with his main national security and foreign policy teams on Monday, as reported by Axios. The first set of talks on April 11-12 in Pakistan ended in a deadlock, with US Vice President JD Vance announcing that his team presented their "final and best offer," stating, "We'll find out if the Iranians accept it." Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who leads Iran’s negotiating group, said he had "offered positive proposals," but the US did not gain Iran's trust. A fragile ceasefire is still active in the Middle East, but the conflict that began in February is still unresolved, nearing a two-month duration.
