Iran has sent its latest proposal in negotiations to end the war with the United States, Iran’s state news agency reported on Friday, a potential step forward in efforts to end the stalemate between the two countries and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic Republic News Agency gave no details on the content of the proposal, but said that it was sent to Pakistani mediators on Thursday evening.
President Trump had expressed dissatisfaction over an earlier Iranian proposal, according to multiple people briefed on discussions in the White House Situation Room on Monday.
Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman, declined to say whether the administration had received the latest proposal.
“We do not detail private diplomatic conversations,” Ms. Kelly said. “President Trump has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon, and negotiations continue to ensure the short- and long-term national security of the United States.”
The earlier Iranian proposal, according to three Iranian officials, allowed the waterway to reopen but postponed negotiations over the country’s nuclear program. The proposal also called on the United States to end its naval blockade of Iran.
Since shortly after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb. 28, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which is normally used to transport as much as one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Since a cease-fire began last month, the U.S. has blocked shipping to and from Iran through the strait.
Energy prices have spiked. Oil prices hit a wartime peak on Thursday before pulling back. After reports of the new Iranian proposal on Friday, prices dropped slightly.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, while Iran has rejected American proposals to suspend its nuclear program and hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Also on Friday, Iranian state television reported that the foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, had spoken by phone with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt, Qatar and other countries in the region to brief them on Iran’s latest stance on ending the war.
Zolan Kanno-Youngs contributed reporting.
Yeganeh Torbati is the Iran correspondent for The Times.
The post Iran Sends New Proposal for Peace Talks with U.S., State Media Says appeared first on New York Times.
