Iran Examines New U.S. Proposal to End War, Pakistan Steps Up Mediation Role

On May 8, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran has received the U.S. stance and is reviewing it, according to Iran's Nour News. This comes six weeks after a ceasefire took effect, but efforts to permanently end the war are being stepped up.

According to ISNA, Pakistan's Army Chief of Staff, General Asim Munir, will visit Tehran on May 9 for negotiations and consultations with the Iranian government. Earlier, Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Iran on May 8 for his second visit in less than a week to discuss Washington's latest proposal.

In April, Pakistan hosted the only round of direct talks between U.S. and Iranian officials since the war erupted on February 28. However, those talks failed when Iran accused the U.S. of making 'excessive demands.' General Munir was central to those negotiations.

Munir's announced visit comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that talks are at the 'borderline' between a deal and the U.S. resuming attacks on Iran. 'Believe me, if we don't get the right response, things will happen very quickly. We are all ready to act,' Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington on May 8.

Trump, who has repeatedly set deadlines for Iran to reach a deal but later postponed or canceled them, said he is willing to wait a few more days to 'get the right answer' from Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on May 8 that his ministry is ready for either negotiations or a return to fighting. 'Where there is a need to fight, we will fight, and where there is a need to negotiate, we will negotiate,' he said. 'If necessary and if the interests of the system require, we will be present in the field of diplomacy, dialogue, and negotiation with the same determination and strength that the armed forces show in defending the country.'

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also warned of resuming attacks. 'If aggression against Iran is repeated, this time the promised regional war will go beyond the region,' the corps stated.

Iran sent its latest proposal to the U.S. this week. According to Nour News, the proposal is based on Tehran's original 14-point proposal, which includes demands for Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, war reparations, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets, and the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Professor Scott Lucas, an expert on U.S. and international politics at the Clinton Institute, University College Dublin, assessed that momentum is currently in Iran's favor. 'Iran is in the driver's seat because it has constructed a 14-point proposal, and in doing so, shifted the focus to the Strait of Hormuz away from the nuclear program. Iran is using its strongest leverage, putting Washington on the defensive. Currently, the U.S. is scrambling to bring the nuclear issue back to the center of talks,' he said.

'The U.S. does not want to end up in a worse position than it was on February 26, when it walked away from the negotiating table. Also note that restrictions on Iran's ballistic missile program are no longer being discussed, nor is Tehran's connection with groups such as Hezbollah. Ultimately, I think a deal will be reached, but we are dealing with a chaotic and unpredictable president [Trump], so the possibility of a return to war cannot be ruled out,' Professor Lucas added.

Iran has been under a U.S. naval blockade since mid-April, initiated by Trump to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept his terms. Since the blockade took effect, the U.S. has boarded and inspected at least five ships. On May 8, U.S. Central Command said a ship was searched and diverted after being suspected of attempting to reach an Iranian port.