US officials have expressed caution over an Iranian proposal to end the conflict by reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a lifting of the US blockade, amid concerns the plan would delay negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The offer, reportedly delivered to Washington via Pakistan, comes after a ceasefire took effect on April 8 but left core issues unresolved. The White House said it is reviewing Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the strategic shipping route, which has been effectively closed for around two months, disrupting global energy markets and trade. Negotiations aimed at ending the conflict and restoring full access to the strait have so far been inconclusive.
President Donald Trump has voiced skepticism about Tehran’s sincerity, according to reports in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. While he did not reject the plan outright, administration officials signaled reluctance to accept an agreement that would postpone talks on Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quoted as saying any deal must “definitively prevent them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point.”
Iranian leaders say they would end hostilities and reopen the strait if Washington lifts its blockade and ends the war, but Washington is demanding that Tehran hand over highly enriched uranium and abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons. Tehran maintains it is not seeking a bomb and insists on the right to a civilian nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.
Regional and global reactions have been mixed. Qatar warned of the risks of a prolonged “frozen conflict,” saying Doha does not want tensions to keep flaring or a situation that repeatedly thaws for political reasons. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and dozens of countries have urged the swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, citing the humanitarian and economic toll of the conflict.
Iran has seized on diplomatic outreach to shore up support. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been on a whirlwind tour that included visits to Oman, Pakistan and Russia. In Saint Petersburg he met President Vladimir Putin, who pledged Russian support and described Iran as defending its sovereignty. Tehran’s Defence Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said the United States can no longer dictate policy to independent nations and will have to abandon what Iran calls “illegal and irrational demands.”
Back home, Iran has taken steps to ease some wartime measures. Authorities approved a temporary “Internet Pro” plan to restore limited connectivity for businesses after a near-total blackout imposed at the start of the conflict. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the scheme was intended to preserve economic activity during crisis conditions, though wider internet restrictions remain in place and most Iranians have been without reliable global internet access for roughly 60 days.
The war’s economic fallout is apparent elsewhere. Energy markets surged after the conflict began, boosting profits for oil companies. BP reported a sharp rise in first-quarter profit to $3.8 billion from $687 million a year earlier, attributing gains to higher crude prices as the Middle East tensions constricted supplies. The windfall has reignited political debate in Europe, where some leaders have proposed taxes on energy firms benefiting from the crisis while others oppose such measures.
The conflict is also drawing wider geopolitical concern. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned the Middle East war is having a disproportionate impact on the Asia-Pacific, stressing the need for closer coordination with partners such as Japan to manage disruptions to energy supplies and tightly linked supply chains.
Human rights and governance questions persist in the Gulf. Some states have reportedly begun revoking citizenships of individuals labeled “traitors,” prompting concerns that citizenship is being used as a tool to suppress dissent under the cover of security measures inspired by the war.
For now, Washington faces a choice between a narrow deal that could reopen a vital waterway but defer contentious nuclear questions, and a broader settlement that addresses Tehran’s nuclear capabilities but may take longer to achieve. US officials say any settlement must prevent a future breakneck push toward nuclear weapons, while Iran seeks relief from economic pressure and acceptance of its civilian nuclear activities.
As diplomatic shuttle efforts continue, the uncertainty has left markets and policymakers tense. The White House review of Iran’s offer, Pakistan’s mediation role and persistent international calls for reopening the strait mean talks could shift quickly — but major obstacles remain before a durable peace and a comprehensive nuclear agreement can be reached.