TEHRAN, Iran — In a potential step toward de-escalating longstanding tensions, Iran has submitted its latest proposal to end the ongoing conflict with the United States, passing the document through diplomatic mediators on Thursday, according to Iranian state media and sources close to the negotiations.
The move comes amid heightened diplomatic efforts to resolve a war that has strained international relations for years. Iran's government-run Islamic Republic News Agency, or IRNA, reported the development on Friday, stating that the proposal was handed over to Pakistan, which has served as a key intermediary in backchannel talks between Tehran and Washington.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has handed over the text of its latest negotiation plan to Pakistan,”IRNA said in its dispatch, marking the first public acknowledgment of the submission from the Iranian side.
Details of the proposal remain closely guarded, with no specifics released by either Tehran or the mediators. Iranian officials have not elaborated on the contents, but the timing of the handover coincides with renewed pressure from the international community to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which escalated following the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal under President Donald Trump in his first term.
The Trump administration, now in its second iteration since Trump's reelection in 2024, has maintained a firm stance on Iran's nuclear ambitions. White House officials have repeatedly insisted that any path to peace requires Tehran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons entirely. In a statement last month, a senior administration spokesperson emphasized that denuclearization is non-negotiable, linking it directly to broader regional stability.
On the Iranian side, priorities appear to differ sharply. Tehran has argued that discussions must first address the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, a vital waterway that has been partially disrupted amid the conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokespeople have described the strait as a linchpin for global energy markets, with closures contributing to spikes in oil prices worldwide.
The handover to Pakistan underscores the role of third-party nations in facilitating dialogue. Pakistan, sharing a border with Iran and maintaining economic ties with both Washington and Tehran, has positioned itself as a neutral broker. Last week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with Iranian counterparts in Islamabad, where sources say preliminary talks on mediation were held. Bhutto Zardari's office confirmed the receipt of documents but declined to comment on their substance.
Background to the current impasse traces back to a series of escalatory events. The war with the U.S. intensified in 2025 after alleged Iranian attacks on U.S. assets in the Persian Gulf, prompting retaliatory strikes. By early 2026, the conflict had drawn in regional powers, with Saudi Arabia and Israel voicing strong support for American positions, while Russia and China offered rhetorical backing to Iran.
According to reports from the United Nations, the war has resulted in over 5,000 civilian casualties and displaced hundreds of thousands in border regions. Economic fallout has been severe, with global oil prices hovering around $120 per barrel, up from $80 at the start of the year. Analysts at the International Energy Agency noted in a recent brief that full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could stabilize markets within months.
Iranian state media portrayed the proposal as a gesture of goodwill, with IRNA quoting an unnamed official as saying it addresses core concerns raised by both sides. However, U.S. officials in Washington expressed skepticism Friday, with a State Department spokesperson telling reporters that any plan must include verifiable commitments on nuclear activities. The spokesperson added that the administration is reviewing the document but would not rush into concessions.
Experts on U.S.-Iran relations offered varied perspectives. At the Brookings Institution, senior fellow Suzanne Maloney described the development as a positive signal but cautioned that deep-seated mistrust could hinder progress. "Iran's willingness to engage through mediators shows flexibility, but the U.S. demand for zero enrichment remains a sticking point," Maloney said in an interview.
Conversely, from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, analyst James Carafano argued that the proposal might be a stalling tactic. "Tehran has a history of using diplomacy to buy time for its nuclear program," Carafano stated, urging the Trump administration to maintain pressure through sanctions and alliances.
The negotiations occur against a backdrop of domestic pressures in both countries. In Iran, President Ebrahim Raisi's government faces economic woes exacerbated by the war, including inflation rates exceeding 40 percent and youth unemployment at record highs. Protests in Tehran last month called for an end to hostilities, with demonstrators chanting slogans demanding peace and economic relief.
In the U.S., public opinion polls from Pew Research Center indicate growing war fatigue, with 62 percent of Americans favoring diplomatic solutions over military escalation. President Trump's approval ratings on foreign policy have dipped to 45 percent, partly due to the protracted conflict's impact on gas prices at home.
Broader implications of the proposal extend to global geopolitics. A successful resolution could ease tensions in the Middle East, potentially paving the way for normalized relations between Iran and Gulf states. It might also influence ongoing talks in Vienna aimed at reviving elements of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 nuclear accord abandoned by the U.S. in 2018.
However, challenges abound. Iranian sources have hinted that the proposal includes demands for lifting U.S. sanctions imposed since 2018, which have crippled Tehran's oil exports. The U.S., in turn, seeks international inspections of Iranian facilities, a provision Tehran has long resisted.
As mediators in Islamabad review the document, all eyes are on the next moves. Pakistani officials indicated that the proposal could be forwarded to Washington within days, potentially setting the stage for indirect talks. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the development in a statement, calling it a crucial opportunity for peace.
Whether this latest initiative bridges the divide remains uncertain. Past attempts, including secret talks in Oman in 2024, faltered over similar sticking points. For now, the submission represents a flicker of hope in a conflict that has defined U.S. foreign policy for nearly two years.
The Appleton Times will continue to monitor developments in this evolving story.