Iran sends updated peace proposal to US through Pakistan

Iran has submitted a revised 14-point proposal to the United States through Pakistani mediation, according to Iranian state-affiliated media, as indirect negotiations between the two countries continue despite ongoing public disagreements, reports The New Arab and agencies on May 18th.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran had amended an earlier proposal after receiving a response from Washington through the same diplomatic channel. The updated draft was reportedly sent back to the US via Pakistan, which has continued to mediate communication between the two sides.

The revised proposal is said to focus heavily on confidence-building measures and steps aimed at reducing tensions, alongside discussions surrounding sanctions relief and broader regional stability.

The developments come days after the United States publicly rejected a previous Iranian proposal. However, Iranian officials insist that behind-the-scenes contacts have remained active.

According to Tasnim, Washington had signalled a willingness to temporarily ease oil sanctions on Iran during negotiations. Tehran, however, reportedly pushed for stronger guarantees, insisting that any agreement must include the full removal of sanctions imposed by the US.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Tehran had received American comments and amendments through Pakistan shortly after submitting its original proposal last week.

Speaking on May 18th, Baghaei said Iranian officials reviewed the US observations before sending their own responses back through the mediation channel.

“The path of communication and negotiations continues through the Pakistani channel,” he said.

Baghaei also reiterated Tehran’s long-standing position on uranium enrichment, describing it as a “fixed right” protected under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. He stressed that Iran’s nuclear activities were not open to negotiation.

The spokesperson further stated that lifting sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian assets remained key priorities for Tehran. He described Iranian funds held abroad as unlawfully restricted and said negotiators continued to pursue the issue in ongoing discussions.

The indirect talks highlight continuing efforts by both countries to manage tensions through diplomatic channels, despite major disagreements over sanctions, nuclear policy and regional security.

The New Arab and agencies, Maghrebi.org