Iran floats ‘plan B’ to defuse Hormuz standoff, delay nuclear talks
The proposal would postpone negotiations over Iran's nuclear program in an attempt to break the deadlock.
WASHINGTON — Iran has offered to cease attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz if the United States agrees to end the war and lift its naval blockade, according to a regional official and other sources familiar with the proposal.
The plan would postpone talks over Iran's nuclear program and other thorny issues that precipitated the war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Monday to discuss the proposal.
The United States imposed a blockade on ships traveling to or from Iranian ports on April 13 in an effort to choke off Iranian oil exports, a day after direct talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad collapsed. A ceasefire between the two countries has largely held, but Iran has told mediators they won’t return to the negotiating table unless the US naval blockade is lifted.
Trump on Saturday said Tehran put forward a stronger counteroffer shortly after he canceled a trip to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for possible talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
