Tehran, Iran. A senior Iranian official said Pakistan has delivered a proposal from the United States to Iran, and that Pakistan or Turkey could be considered as venues for discussions to de-escalate the war in the Gulf. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the comments to Reuters on Wednesday.
Diplomatic channel and possible venues
The Iranian official did not disclose details of the proposal passed on by Pakistan, or whether it matched a 15-point U.S. proposal reported by Reuters and other news outlets. The official said Turkey had also “helped to end the war” and that either Turkey or Pakistan was under consideration as a venue for talks.
Iran’s neighbour Pakistan has offered to host talks to be attended by senior U.S. officials as soon as this week. In Turkey, senior ruling party official Harun Armagan told Reuters on Wednesday that Ankara was “playing a role passing messages” between Iran and the United States.
Market reaction and confirmation of a plan
Oil prices fell and battered shares recovered on Wednesday after reports that the United States had sent a 15-point plan to Iran, as investors hoped for an end to nearly four weeks of war that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy supplies.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday that the plan had been sent to Iran.
Israeli briefing and reported elements of the proposal
Three Israeli cabinet sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet had been briefed on the proposal. They said it includes removing Iran’s stocks of highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment, curbing its ballistic missile programme and ending funding for regional allies.
U.S. military planning and Iran’s public stance
The Pentagon is planning to send thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf to give President Donald Trump more options to order a ground assault, sources told Reuters, adding to two contingents of Marines already on their way. The first Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard a large amphibious assault ship could arrive around the end of the month.
There has been no public recognition from Iran that it is willing to negotiate, while its assertions that it would not do so have intensified. Iran’s joint military command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaqari taunted Trump on Iranian state TV, saying: “Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?”
What developments would you watch for as potential talks venues and message-passing efforts continue?