Iran Says US Reply to Peace Plan Came Through Pakistan

Iran said on Monday that the United States had sent a response to Tehran’s latest peace proposal through Pakistan, placing Islamabad once again at the centre of a fast-moving diplomatic effort linked to the wider Iran-US confrontation. The development was reported by state media as regional tensions remained high and both sides continued weighing the risks of renewed conflict against the possibility of a negotiated pause.

According to the report, Iran’s proposal was structured around 14 points and had been routed through Pakistan as part of continuing back-channel communication. Tehran said it was reviewing Washington’s response, but officials indicated that formal nuclear negotiations were not currently taking place. The distinction is significant because Iran appears to be separating immediate conflict-management demands from any broader discussion over its nuclear programme.

The proposal reportedly included steps to ease confrontation across active fronts, reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and address the US blockade of Iranian ports. A senior Iranian official was cited as saying that the suggested arrangement would prioritise maritime access and the lifting of restrictions while leaving nuclear talks for a later stage. That approach suggests Tehran is seeking immediate economic and strategic relief before entering more politically sensitive negotiations.

Iranian officials and military-linked voices reacted sharply to Washington’s posture. A foreign ministry spokesperson said there were no nuclear talks at this stage, while the intelligence department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps warned that the space for American decision-making was narrowing. The IRGC framed the choice before US President Donald Trump as one between an impractical military path and an unfavourable agreement with Iran.

Trump, meanwhile, said he had been briefed on the concept of the Iranian proposal but was waiting to see the exact text. He also signalled scepticism about the plan, saying he did not expect it to be acceptable, and warned that military action could resume if Iran acted in a way Washington considered hostile. His remarks have added uncertainty to the diplomatic track, even as Pakistan’s role as an intermediary has gained renewed attention.

Pakistan’s involvement reflects its growing importance in crisis diplomacy between regional and global powers. Islamabad shares a border with Iran, has strong economic and security reasons to avoid a wider conflict, and is directly exposed to any disruption in regional trade, energy movement and cross-border stability. By serving as a channel for messages, Pakistan is attempting to reduce escalation while positioning itself as a practical diplomatic bridge.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the standoff because of its importance to global energy flows. Iranian control and influence over parts of the Gulf coastline make the waterway a powerful bargaining point, while any prolonged disruption can affect oil markets, shipping costs and inflation pressures far beyond the Middle East. For Pakistan, higher energy prices and regional instability would carry direct economic consequences at a time when the country is already managing fiscal and external pressures.

The latest exchange also comes after weeks of volatility following US and Israeli military action against Iran and subsequent ceasefire efforts. Tehran has accused Washington of failing to honour commitments, while American officials have continued to insist that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. The competing narratives have made even limited confidence-building measures difficult to sustain.

For Pakistan, the immediate challenge is to keep the communication channel open while avoiding the perception that it is taking sides. Any breakthrough could enhance Islamabad’s diplomatic standing, but a collapse in talks could increase pressure along Pakistan’s western border and deepen uncertainty in the region. The next stage will depend on whether Washington accepts any part of Tehran’s revised offer and whether Iran is willing to move from message exchanges toward structured negotiations.