Iran Expected to Respond to US Peace Proposal
Iran is expected to deliver its response to a U.S. proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict by Thursday, according to a CNN report citing a regional source.
The development comes after earlier reports suggested that Washington and Tehran were moving closer to a one-page memorandum that could help end the war and establish a framework for renewed nuclear negotiations.
US-Iran Talks Show Signs of Progress
Officials from both the United States and Iran recently signaled progress in negotiations reportedly brokered by Pakistan earlier this week.
Diplomatic momentum increased after the United States paused an operation designed to restore commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump also described recent discussions with Iran as “very good talks,” raising optimism across global markets about a potential breakthrough.
Saudi Arabia Reportedly Opposed US Hormuz Operation
According to an NBC News report citing two U.S. officials, Trump’s decision to halt the planned Strait of Hormuz escort operation came after strong backlash from Saudi Arabia.
The operation, reportedly called “Project Freedom,” was announced suddenly by Trump on Sunday and allegedly caught several Gulf allies by surprise.
The report stated that Saudi leadership reacted negatively to the proposal and informed Washington that it would not allow U.S. military aircraft to operate from a key airbase southeast of Riyadh or use Saudi airspace to support the mission.
Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Failed to Reach Agreement
NBC reported that a direct call between Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman failed to resolve the dispute.
As a result, the U.S. president reportedly paused the operation.
Additional reports also claimed that Kuwait denied the United States access to its military bases and airspace for the planned mission.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Global Economic Flashpoint
Earlier this week, Trump halted Project Freedom after Iran responded with military action against the operation.
Despite pausing the mission, Trump stated that a peace agreement with Iran appeared close while maintaining that a naval blockade against Tehran remained active.
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the central flashpoints in the conflict.
Iran has effectively restricted activity through the strategic shipping route since late February, creating major concerns for global energy markets.
Roughly 20% of the world’s crude oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making any disruption a major economic risk, particularly for energy-dependent Asian economies.
