A Pakistani source confirmed that Islamabad conveyed Tehran’s latest proposal to Washington as part of its ongoing mediation efforts between the two sides after hosting direct talks last month.
However, the source suggested negotiations remained difficult, saying both sides continued to shift their positions.
“They keep changing their goalposts,” the Pakistani source said, adding, “We don’t have much time.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also confirmed that Tehran’s views had been delivered to the American side through Pakistan, though he did not disclose details of the proposal.
According to a senior Iranian official, the new proposal resembles earlier offers that US President Donald Trump had previously rejected. The proposal reportedly focuses first on ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting maritime sanctions imposed on Iran.
More contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and uranium enrichment activities, would reportedly be postponed to later rounds of negotiations.
Despite ongoing disagreements, the Iranian official claimed Washington had softened its stance on several issues during recent discussions.
The source said the United States had agreed in principle to release around one-quarter of Iran’s frozen foreign assets, which amount to tens of billions of dollars held abroad. Tehran, however, is seeking the release of all blocked funds.
Iran also claimed that Washington had shown greater flexibility regarding limited peaceful nuclear activity under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Separately, Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted an unnamed source as saying the United States had accepted temporarily waiving sanctions on Iranian oil exports while negotiations continue.
The ceasefire currently in place followed six weeks of conflict that erupted after US and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran earlier this year. Although large-scale fighting has subsided, tensions remain high and negotiations have repeatedly stalled.
President Trump recently warned that the ceasefire was “on life support” and said time was running out for Tehran to reach an agreement.
In a post on Truth Social over the weekend, Trump wrote: “The Clock is Ticking,” adding that Iran “better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them.”
According to reports, Trump is expected to meet senior national security advisers on Tuesday to discuss possible military options if diplomacy fails to produce progress.
Washington has previously demanded that Iran dismantle its nuclear programme and guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.
Iran, meanwhile, has demanded compensation for war-related damage, an end to US restrictions on Iranian ports and a halt to hostilities across the region, including fighting involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
