Iran reorders priorities in new proposal, disagrees with Washington
Iran new proposal.. three stages: ceasefire, reopen Hormuz, then nuclear
Iran, through Pakistani mediators, has presented a new proposal for negotiations with the United States, calling for ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz as a priority, while postponing discussion of the nuclear file to a later stage.
This proposal comes amid stalled efforts to hold a second round of direct negotiations in Pakistan, while Washington insists on linking all files to Iran’s nuclear program.
Separating files: war first, then nuclear
The American news website “Axios,” citing a US official and informed sources, revealed that the new Iranian proposal is based on ending the war and lifting the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz first, with negotiations on the nuclear program to begin at a later stage.
The proposal was discussed during the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Pakistan. It suggests the possibility of extending the ceasefire for a long period or reaching a permanent agreement to end the war.
Three stages in the Iranian plan
According to Dr. Hossein Royouran, a researcher in regional affairs from Tehran, the Iranian plan consists of three stages. The first is ending the war completely. The second is reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The third is negotiating the nuclear file, where he noted the possibility of converting 60% enriched uranium to 20% for medical use.
He added that these steps have corresponding Iranian demands, including lifting sanctions, compensation, and the release of frozen funds. Iran’s official news agency quoted the Parliamentary Presidium as stating that all pillars of the system are united on this and there is no disagreement among them.
Difference from previous proposals
Araghchi said in Moscow, before his meetings with his Russian counterpart and President Putin, that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is an important global issue. The fundamental difference from before lies in the separation of files and the reordering of priorities.
Previous proposals linked everything to the nuclear file, while Tehran’s new proposal suggests resolving the strait crisis first. According to Axios, Araghchi explained that there is no consensus within the Iranian leadership regarding Trump’s demands on enriched uranium, and that the proposal aims to overcome these internal divisions.
Mehr News Agency quoted Araghchi describing US demands as excessive and that they caused the failure of the negotiations, while affirming Pakistan’s role in mediation to achieve peace and enhance regional stability.
Araghchi discusses enhancing regional coordination with Moscow during a regional diplomatic tour https://t.co/DbaPnGXoVT pic.twitter.com/mIFU5CO3mD
— IRNA Arabic (@irna_arabic) April 27, 2026
Washington: Uranium is the key
Pakistani mediators have presented the Iranian proposal to the White House, but it is unclear whether the United States is ready to study it, according to Axios.
US President Trump is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the Iranian offer and war options. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the United States does not negotiate through the media, that the final decision is in Washington’s hands, and affirms that Iran will not be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.
Republican analyst Adolfo Franco believes that all issues are linked to the uranium question, considering that solving the core problem (the nuclear file) would lead to solving other issues. He noted that Washington might be open to extending the ceasefire, but not indefinitely, due to Iran continuing uranium enrichment and fears of it rebuilding its forces.
Missile file decline and Iranian demands
For his part, Dr. Mahjoub Al-Zuwairy points to the decline of the Iranian missile program file in US priorities for two reasons: first, the US and Israel have announced the destruction of hundreds of missile bases; second, Iran has declared that this file is not subject to negotiation.
Iranian corresponding demands include: lifting sanctions, compensation for the war, and the release of frozen funds dating back to the beginning of the Iranian revolution.
Multiple mediations and a future outlook
Pakistan hosted a round of talks on April 11 that did not lead to an agreement. Trump then announced the extension of the truce based on Pakistan’s request. Omani mediation is also returning to the fore, as the Sultan of Oman received the Iranian Foreign Minister. Observers point to an expected role for Muscat in the Strait of Hormuz file, as Oman has been the main channel for negotiations between Washington and Tehran for about 16 years, covering the nuclear file that led to the 2015 agreement, as well as prisoner exchange and frozen funds files.
No information is yet available on how Washington will deal with the new Iranian proposal. Observers believe the proposal faces obstacles, most notably Washington’s insistence on linking all files to the nuclear program.
According to the Iranian proposal, Tehran seeks to separate the files and resolve the strait crisis first, while Washington insists on making the uranium file the foundation. The question remains: Is the priority for enriched uranium or for the Strait of Hormuz?
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