Iran has responded to U.S. proposal in peace talks, state media reports

Iran has responded to a US proposal to end the war in the Middle East, Iranian state media reported on Sunday.

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The response “was given through Pakistan,” the official IRNA news agency said, without specifying what the response was. “According to the proposed plan, negotiations at this stage will focus on the issue of ending the war in the region.”

The two sides continued to exchange fire in the Persian Gulf on Saturday, more than a month after announcing a temporary ceasefire agreement that initially aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran continued to block ships from passing through the strait, disrupting critical Gulf oil supplies and prolonging global economic uncertainty surrounding the conflict.

Markets have soared and oil prices have fallen over the past week amid expectations that a deal could be reached after weeks of negotiations and occasional setbacks.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the United States was still waiting for a “clear resolution” from Iran on its latest proposal.

He told moderator Kristen Welker that the United States seeks to “ensure free movement in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz and end Iran’s nuclear program.”

“When we start to get free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, energy prices will fall,” he added.

Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told ABC News that the negotiations had been “longer and slower, I think, than anyone would like,” but stressed that “these negotiations and the diplomacy are ongoing.”

President Donald Trump’s plan to have military ships escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, known as “Project Freedom,” was suspended last week, just days after it was announced.

The United States has meanwhile maintained its own blockade of Iranian ports, but a US intelligence analysis concluded that Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months.

In a telephone interview with NBC News on Friday, Trump answered “no” when asked if the conflict with Iran was over.

“It’s over when it’s over,” the president said. “But we certainly won militarily. We need to get the people out of the caves.” [in Iran] and sign something.

About 20% of the world’s oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

In the interview, Trump said of this critical waterway: “We actually control it, they don’t. And we took the business away from them.”

There are “no boats entering Iran,” he added. “They are dying.”

More important than achieving an immediate end to the conflict is reaching an agreement that is in the best interests of the United States, he suggested.

“I don’t want to get to that point if it means I can’t get the best deal,” he said. “I must be getting a good deal. We’re pretty close.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that “whenever a diplomatic solution is on the table, the United States opts for a reckless military adventure.”

The U.S. military blockade of Iranian ports will ultimately deprive Tehran of crucial oil revenues, but the regime could likely withstand the pressure for months without a major economic crisis or lasting damage to its oil fields, energy sector analysts and two Western officials familiar with intelligence assessments told NBC News.

Administration officials say the blockade aims to cut off Iranian oil exports — the country’s economic lifeline — and force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and comply with U.S. demands at the negotiating table.

Iran has gradually begun to reduce its oil production due to the blockade, and over the next two months it may run out of storage capacity for its oil and even be forced to close some wells. But most analysts say Iran can probably avoid closing its wells since a significant amount of its oil can be consumed locally, allowing most oil fields to continue operating.