Iran Submits New Peace Proposal to the US: Key Details Revealed
Iran has submitted its latest peace proposal to the United States, which includes an end to conflicts across the region, including Lebanon, the withdrawal of US forces from areas near Iran, and demands for compensation for damages resulting from US-Israel warfare. This proposal emerges as the possibility of a new agreement between Washington and Tehran regains momentum amidst a months-long military stalemate.
Iranian state media, IRNA, reported on Tuesday (19/05/202lar) that the proposal serves as a new offer from Tehran to Washington to terminate the conflict that erupted following US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February. In Iran’s first public comment regarding the proposal, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran also demands the removal of economic sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian funds held abroad, and an end to the US naval blockade against the country.
According to IRNA reports, Iran seeks a cessation of all hostilities across various regional conflict fronts, including Lebanon, where the Tehran-backed Hezbollah group continues to confront Israel. The contents of Iran’s latest proposal are considered not significantly different from a previous offer that was flatly rejected by US President Donald Trump last week, whom described the proposal as “rubbish.”
Nevertheless, Trump revealed on Monday that he is postponing plans to continue attacks against Iran after receiving the new peace proposal from Tehran. He even suggested that the chance of reaching an agreement is now quite high. “There is a very good chance that they can find a way out,” Trump stated, as reported by Reuters.
Trump added that he would be very pleased if an agreement could be reached without having to resort to large-scale attacks against Iran. “If we can do that without bombing them to pieces, I would be very happy,” he said.
Trump’s statement comes amid international pressure to end the conflict immediately to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic global shipping lane and a primary route for the distribution of oil and various global commodities. During the war, Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, thereby disrupting the flow of global energy trade.
Trump has previously expressed optimism that a peace deal is near, while simultaneously threatening Iran with massive strikes if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement. In a social media post, Trump noted that the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had requested him to delay attacks on Iran. “A deal will be reached, which will be very acceptable to the United States, as well as all countries in the Middle East and beyond,” Trump wrote.
A Pakistani source confirmed that Islamabad has conveyed Iran’s proposal to Washington. Pakistan has served as a communication mediator between the two parties since hosting the only round of peace talks last month. However, the source acknowledged that negotiations remain difficult. “Both sides continue to change their targets,” the Pakistani source said. “We do not have much time.”
Meanwhile, although both parties have not yet publicly announced concessions in the negotiations that have been stalled for the past month, a senior Iranian official stated that Washington has begun to soften some of its demands. According to the source, the US has reportedly agreed to release one-quarter of Iran’s frozen funds in foreign banks, totalling tens of billions of US dollars. However, Iran is demanding the release of all such assets.
The Iranian source also mentioned that Washington is becoming more flexible regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Nevertheless, the US government has not yet confirmed any agreement in these negotiations. A US official, speaking anonymously, also denied reports from the Tasnim news agency suggesting that Washington has agreed to lift oil sanctions on Iran while negotiations are ongoing.