Iran offers Hormuz deal without nuclear talks, as it seeks broader buy-in
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed with regional interlocutors a proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz while deferring talks with the United States on Tehran’s nuclear programme for later, during a 72-hour diplomatic sprint across three countries seemingly aimed at securing broader support for the plan.
Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg after visiting Islamabad twice in two days, with the two trips sandwiching a meeting in Muscat, Oman. Sources close to the diplomatic efforts said senior intelligence officials from several countries were present at the Muscat talks.
Discussions in Muscat focused on the Strait of Hormuz, regional security guarantees and the framework for a potential settlement, with nuclear-related issues set aside for a later stage.
Iran has submitted its latest proposal to end the war with the United States to Pakistan, which is transmitting messages between Tehran and Washington after direct talks on April 11 in Islamabad failed to deliver a breakthrough.
The White House has not confirmed the contents of the Iranian proposal, also reported by the Associated Press. Spokeswoman Olivia Wales said the US “will not negotiate through the press” and would “only make a deal that puts the American people first, never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
But it is unclear whether US President Donald Trump will accept the Iranian proposal to push back nuclear negotiations. Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Trump said Iran already knew what was required.
“They cannot have a nuclear weapon. Otherwise, there’s no reason to meet,” he said, adding that Tehran was welcome to reach out. “You know there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines.”
The latest diplomatic efforts are unfolding against a ticking clock, with Trump facing a May 1 deadline under the 1973 War Powers Resolution to obtain congressional authorisation to continue military operations against Iran, now in their ninth week.
During the first of his two visits to Islamabad, Araghchi met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir.
He later travelled to Muscat, returned to Pakistan on Sunday, and met Munir again before departing for Moscow. Araghchi said Pakistan had “played an important role in mediating negotiations between Iran and the United States recently”, while noting that “incorrect approaches and excessive demands of the United States” had hindered progress.
Senior Pakistani officials said Islamabad would continue its efforts as an honest facilitator.
Iranian state media, however, said Araghchi relayed messages through Pakistan outlining Tehran’s red lines on nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz.
Beyond these engagements, Araghchi held telephone calls with the foreign ministers of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and France over the past three days.
Qatar’s Prime Minister warned that sea lanes must not become “a bargaining chip or pressure tactic”, while Oman called for “practical solutions to ensure lasting freedom of navigation”.
Analysts said the flurry of calls reflected cautious engagement rather than strategic realignment, with Gulf states increasingly focused on maritime security and the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional tensions.
Iran’s outreach, analysts said, also reflects lessons drawn from the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal and a broader strategy to build diplomatic support across multiple actors, including Russia, which continues to play a quiet but influential role in Tehran’s calculations.
However, analysts noted that Iran’s efforts remain dependent on eventual US agreement, with President Trump insisting that Iran’s proposals are “not enough” and maintaining that Tehran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
Credit: Aljazeera
