Iran responds to US peace proposal through Pakistani mediator

• US proposal aims to officially end the war.
• Qatari oil tanker moves through the Strait of Hormuz toward Pakistan.
• US criticizes allies for not supporting efforts to reopen the strait.
  

Iran has responded to a US proposal to kick off peace negotiations to end the conflict, according to the Irna news agency on Sunday.

The Irna report indicates the response, sent to mediator Pakistan, will focus on ending the war for now, but no specifics are available yet.

After roughly two days of relative calm following sporadic clashes last week, hostile drones were detected over several Gulf nations Sunday, highlighting ongoing regional threats despite a ceasefire that’s lasted a month.

The US-backed proposal seeks to formally end the conflict before engaging in discussions about more sensitive issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program.

President Trump faces pressure to end the conflict

With President Donald Trump scheduled to visit China this week, increasing pressure is mounting to resolve the war, which has led to a worldwide energy crisis and threatens the global economy.

Despite diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock, threats to shipping routes and regional economies remain high. Sunday saw the UAE intercept two drones coming from Iran, and Qatar condemned an attack on a cargo ship originating from Abu Dhabi, while Kuwait reported intercepting hostile drones in its airspace.

Tehran continues to restrict non-Iranian shipping through the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which once carried 20% of global oil exports before the conflict began. The strait has become a crucial flashpoint in the ongoing war.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al­Thani discussed Pakistan’s efforts at mediation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Miami on Saturday. He warned Iran that using the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool would only intensify the crisis, emphasizing that freedom of navigation should be maintained, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry.

Iranian lawmakers are reportedly drafting legislation to formalize Iran’s management of the strait, including provisions to block passage for vessels from hostile countries.

Recent days have seen the most intense clashes in the area since the ceasefire began a month ago, with renewed attacks on the UAE and sporadic confrontations between Iranian forces and US vessels in the strait.

US criticizes allies for lack of support in reopening the strait

Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ships last month, but Tehran appears hesitant to respond to calls to end the war, which polls suggest is unpopular among US voters facing rising gas prices. An intelligence estimate indicates Iran might not experience significant economic pressure from a US blockade for up to four months, according to a US official. However, this claim has been challenged, with a senior intelligence official dismissing it as false, as reported by The Washington Post.

The US has yet to gain broad international backing; NATO allies are hesitant to send ships to reopen the strait without a comprehensive peace agreement or an authorized international mission. After meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday, Senator Marco Rubio questioned why Italy and other allies are not supporting efforts to reopen the Strait, warning that allowing Iran control over an international waterway could set a dangerous precedent.

Britain, collaborating with France on a plan for safe transit through the strait once stability returns, announced it would deploy a warship to the Middle East to prepare for a potential multinational mission.