The United States and Iran are entering what President Donald Trump describes as the 'final stages' of negotiations, with both sides exchanging fresh proposals after a fragile ceasefire halted 40 days of direct conflict. According to reports from the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed on Wednesday that Iran has received the American side's points of view and is reviewing them. The exchange of messages is based on Iran's 14-point text from several weeks ago, which essentially suggests a short-term deal that would see Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US lift a blockade of Iranian ports, with the warring sides then going into deeper negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program. A source close to Iran's negotiating team said the mediator was currently in Tehran attempting to narrow differences between the two sides, though no agreement had yet been reached. Latest developments show that Iran's ISNA news agency reported on Thursday that Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir is expected to travel to Tehran later today as part of the ongoing Pakistani mediation efforts between Tehran and Washington.
President Trump has indicated that Washington is prepared to give diplomacy one final opportunity before considering tougher action. 'We're in the final stages of Iran. We'll see what happens,' Trump told reporters. 'We'll either have a deal, or we're going to do some things that are a little bit nasty. But hopefully that won't happen,' he added. The president also said he was 'in no hurry' to secure what he described as a limited arrangement focused only on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. 'We're going to give this one shot,' Trump said, ruling out the possibility of a partial compromise. Trump further revealed that he had held a 'very good' phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose government is seen as one of the key facilitators in the ongoing diplomatic efforts. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reinforced this diplomatic stance, saying 'all paths' to a diplomatic solution with the US 'remain open from our side', while warning that attempts to force Tehran into surrender through pressure or threats are 'nothing but an illusion'.
Iran has given no indication of when it will respond to the US and has reiterated its demand for a commitment that fighting will end 'on all fronts, including Lebanon'. As reported by the Iranian Students' News Agency, Baghaei also called for the unfreezing of sanctioned assets as part of any potential agreement. The developments follow renewed threats of escalation between the US and Iran as their stand-off drags on. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a post on X on Wednesday, said Tehran had consistently tried to prevent further conflict. 'All paths remain open from our side. Forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion,' Pezeshkian wrote. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi also warned Washington against returning to war, referring to reports of US aircraft losses during the recent conflict.
Baghaei also said Iran, in coordination with Oman, was exploring a mechanism to ensure 'lasting security' in the Strait of Hormuz. He added that Tehran was prepared to work with regional coastal states to create protocols for safe maritime movement in the strategically vital waterway. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the biggest flashpoints in the ongoing tensions. Following the outbreak of the conflict earlier this year, Iran tightened control over the route and blocked vessels linked to the US and Israel. After peace talks in Islamabad failed in April, the US imposed a naval blockade affecting ships travelling to and from Iranian ports through the Strait. The waterway remains critical for global energy shipments, and any disruption there has triggered international concern over oil supply and regional stability. Iran's newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority has announced the creation of a 'supervision area' in the Strait of Hormuz, saying vessels will now require permission to transit the strategic waterway.
According to reports from Axios citing unnamed sources, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a tense call on Tuesday. The report came shortly after Trump told reporters that Netanyahu would 'do whatever I want him to do'. Earlier, Iran warned it would retaliate beyond West Asia if the US or Israel renewed hostilities. 'If aggression against Iran is repeated, the regional war that had been promised will this time extend beyond the region,' the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. The IRGC vowed 'crushing blows in places you do not expect.' Meanwhile, Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon have killed more than 20 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry and media, as a 'ceasefire' extension agreed upon between Lebanese and Israeli officials continues in name only.
