Despite months of tension, diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran have resumed. US President Donald Trump has expressed his expectation of more talks this week, while Tehran has not indicated any change in its basic conditions.
In the latest effort, the two sides are communicating through mediators rather than direct talks. Qatari mediators are meeting separately with Iranian and US officials in New York to discuss possible changes to the Iranian plan presented last week.
Iran had proposed a seven-day ceasefire. The plan calls for a halt to fighting, an end to the freeze on Iranian assets, easing sanctions on Iranian oil and an end to the US naval blockade. In return, Tehran is showing willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks on its nuclear programme.
The US president announced his rejection of the proposal but later expressed his expectation of further contacts. This shows that despite the differences between the two countries, the diplomatic channel has not been completely closed.
According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Tehran has not yet received an official message of Washington’s final position. He says that any action regarding the Strait of Hormuz will depend on Iran’s conditions being met. Tehran is insisting on a solution to the problem through negotiations.
The most difficult question in the negotiations is who will take the first step. Iran wants US economic pressure to be eased first, while Washington considers Iranian actions on the Strait of Hormuz and other issues to be important. This order is becoming the main difference between the two sides.
The impact of the stalemate is not limited to the two countries. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global energy trade. A prolonged blockage there could weigh on oil shipments, global prices and regional trade. Energy markets have reacted to every major development in the talks in recent days.
The next focus will be on the mediators’ contacts and a possible response from Washington. If both sides agree on initial terms, talks could move on to a ceasefire and practical steps related to Hormuz. No final agreement has been reached yet, so only the next phase of the diplomatic process will clarify the direction of the situation.
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