Iran Reportedly Proposes Opening Hormuz Strait, Delays Nuclear Deal

JAKARTA - Iran has proposed that the Strait of Hormuz can be immediately opened and the war ended, but with nuclear negotiations postponed to the next stage.

Reported by Axios, the proposal was conveyed to the US through intermediaries, including Pakistan, amid a diplomatic impasse over Iran's nuclear program.

The source said the plan is aimed at overcoming the impasse regarding uranium enrichment in order to accelerate the achievement of an agreement to open the blockade and restore shipping traffic.

The proposal includes an extension of the ceasefire, for a long time or permanently, with talks on nuclear only starting after the Strait of Hormuz is opened and existing restrictions are ended.

An American official and a source associated with the discussions said the White House had received the proposal, though it had not signaled whether it was willing to follow up.

US President Donald Trump is said to hold a meeting with senior security officials on Monday to discuss a way out of the impasse.

Trump said he wanted to maintain a naval blockade on Iran to increase pressure on Tehran.

"When you have a lot of oil ... and if the pipeline is closed ... the pipeline will explode from the inside," Trump said, claiming Iran only had "three days" before facing internal pressure.

Meanwhile, diplomatic steps continued to intensify over the weekend, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holding talks with partners in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Muscat, Oman, regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Monday morning to hold high-level meetings with President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials.

"This is a sensitive diplomatic discussion ... the US holds all its cards," said White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales.

The United States and Iran held the first phase of negotiations in Islamabad on April 11-12, but failed to reach an agreement to end the conflict.

The talks were held after Pakistan managed to push for a two-week ceasefire on April 8, which was then extended by Trump.

Although various parties are trying to continue negotiations, a number of issues are still obstacles in the process, including the Strait of Hormuz, the US blockade of Iranian ports, and Iran's right to enrich uranium.