Iran Conflict Stalls as Tehran Offers Hormuz Reopening Deal but Seeks to Delay Nuclear Talks

WASHINGTON — The U.S.-Iran ceasefire remains in place but shows little progress toward a permanent agreement, with Iran submitting a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war while explicitly postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage.

The offer, conveyed through Pakistani mediators over the weekend, calls for the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for Iran allowing commercial shipping to resume through the critical waterway. According to U.S. officials and sources familiar with the proposal, Tehran views the Hormuz issue as a separate confidence-building step that would not require immediate concessions on its nuclear program.

The proposal comes after President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip by special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad. Trump stated he told his team the envoys would not make the long flight because “we have all the cards” and Iran “can call us anytime.” He later indicated that Iran responded with a “much better” proposal after the cancellation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shuttled between Islamabad, Oman, and Moscow in recent days, holding talks with Pakistani leaders and regional partners but avoiding direct meetings with U.S. representatives. Iranian officials have maintained that any formal negotiations must first address the blockade, which has halted most Iranian oil exports and cost the regime hundreds of millions of dollars daily in lost revenue.

The U.S. naval blockade, imposed in mid-April after earlier talks in Pakistan failed to produce a deal, remains fully in effect. President Trump has repeatedly said the blockade will stay in place until a comprehensive agreement is reached that addresses Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly ruled out any deal that excludes the nuclear question.

Pakistan continues to push for renewed dialogue, with officials describing the current window as critical. However, both sides have sent mixed signals. Trump has voiced optimism about a possible deal while keeping military options on the table, including orders for the Navy to aggressively counter any Iranian attempts to lay mines in the strait. Iran has insisted it will not negotiate under what it calls military pressure and has conducted limited enforcement actions against vessels in the waterway.

The standoff has kept global energy markets on edge. The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of the world’s seaborne oil trade, and prolonged restrictions have contributed to higher fuel prices for American families and businesses. Iran is also facing practical limits, with reports of dwindling onshore oil storage capacity and the risk of having to cap wells if exports remain blocked.

As of April 28, 2026, no new meeting date has been set. The administration is reviewing the latest Iranian proposal internally, while Tehran continues to press for the blockade to be lifted as a precondition for broader talks. The indefinite ceasefire has prevented major new fighting since early April, but repeated incidents involving ships in the strait illustrate how quickly tensions could escalate if diplomacy stalls further.

The coming days are expected to bring clearer indications of whether the two sides can bridge the gap on sequencing the issues or whether the blockade and economic pressure will continue to shape the next phase of the standoff.