US President Donald Trump has reviewed a fresh Iranian proposal to resolve the ongoing conflict with Tehran during a meeting with his senior national security advisers, as the war remains deadlocked and energy flows from the region continue to be disrupted.
The proposal, conveyed by Iranian officials, outlines a phased approach to negotiations that would initially set aside Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Instead, it prioritises ending hostilities and resolving disputes over shipping in the Gulf, including access to the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters cied on Tuesday that Washington has consistently maintained that nuclear issues must be addressed at the outset, making the proposal unlikely to gain immediate acceptance.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed scepticism, suggesting Tehran is seeking to delay substantive commitments.
"We can't let them get away with it," he said.
"They’re very good negotiators. They're very experienced negotiators. We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made is one that definitely prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point," Rubio said.
Despite the absence of direct talks, intermediaries, including officials in Pakistan, indicate that backchannel negotiations remain active.
Planned in-person discussions in Islamabad were abandoned after Trump cancelled a visit by his envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, underscoring waning momentum in diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, has continued shuttle diplomacy, travelling between regional and global capitals, including Oman and Russia, where he met President Vladimir Putin and secured expressions of support.
Araqchi told reporters in Russia that Trump had requested negotiations because the United States has not achieved any of its objectives.
According to Iranian sources, the proposal envisions an initial ceasefire in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, coupled with guarantees against renewed military action.
This would be followed by negotiations over the US blockade and the reopening of maritime routes, before eventually addressing the long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear activities, including its demand for recognition of uranium enrichment rights for civilian purposes.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to exert significant pressure on global energy markets.
Oil prices rose to a two-week high on Monday, reflecting persistent uncertainty over supply disruptions linked to restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Although a ceasefire has paused large-scale strikes since late February, no comprehensive agreement has been reached to end hostilities that have claimed thousands of lives and weighed heavily on the global economy.
Shipping through the strait has been severely curtailed. Where up to 140 vessels once transited daily, only a handful have done so in recent days, none carrying oil to international markets.
Iran has restricted passage largely to its own vessels, while the United States has intensified efforts to intercept Iranian shipments, forcing multiple tankers to turn back.
Tehran has condemned the seizures in strong terms, describing them as "outright legalisation of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas".
Domestically, Trump faces mounting pressure to bring the conflict to a close amid declining approval ratings, while Iran, despite military setbacks, retains strategic leverage through its ability to disrupt one of the world’s most critical oil corridors. - April 28, 2026
