Tehran: Iran has defended its latest two day proposal for ending the war, insisting that its conditions offer a reasonable basis for negotiations, even as the United States continues to oppose several key demands from Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei defended the proposal on Monday, describing it as the most reasonable offer available. His remarks came as diplomatic efforts involving Qatar continued, with Washington and Tehran still divided over sanctions, nuclear inspections, maritime security and the future of military operations across the region.
The proposal seeks to establish a framework for ending the conflict through a series of steps addressing immediate military and economic concerns before moving towards more detailed negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme.
Under the proposed arrangement, the United States would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and release some frozen Iranian funds on the first day. Iran would also invite the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect nuclear facilities damaged during the conflict.
On the second day, the proposal calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restoring normal shipping activity through the strategic waterway. Further negotiations would then focus on Iran's nuclear programme, particularly its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
However, Tehran's demands extend beyond the immediate arrangements for ending hostilities. Iran wants the United States to lift economic sanctions, release frozen Iranian assets and provide compensation for damage caused during the war.
It is also demanding an end to military operations across the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. Tehran argues that any settlement must address the wider conflict rather than focus exclusively on direct hostilities between Iran and the United States.
These conditions remain a major obstacle to negotiations. Washington has expressed doubts about Iran's proposal, particularly its demands concerning sanctions, compensation and the future of the regional military presence.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on November 8 that indirect negotiations had not produced enough progress to suggest that an agreement was imminent. He maintained that President Donald Trump preferred a diplomatic solution but indicated that several Iranian demands remained unacceptable to Washington.
Trump has also signalled that he would prefer to avoid another major military escalation if a strong agreement could be reached. However, his administration has not ruled out further military action if diplomatic efforts fail.
Vice President JD Vance has reportedly become personally involved in indirect negotiations with Iran over the past two weeks. He has maintained regular contact with Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who has emerged as an important intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
Qatar has been facilitating the exchange of proposals between the two countries. On November 3, its Foreign Ministry confirmed that a delegation had travelled to Tehran and held discussions with Iranian officials for approximately three hours.
The mediation efforts also involve other regional countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on November 9 that he had urged Trump to avoid another escalation, stressing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy.
Pakistan has also been involved in regional diplomatic contacts, with its military chief, Asim Munir, reportedly maintaining communication with Vance as intermediaries seek to bring the two sides closer to an agreement.
Meanwhile, the security situation around the Strait of Hormuz continues to create difficulties for diplomatic efforts.
Iranian state television reported on November 9 that 11 tankers had been disabled over the previous 10 days. The figure has not been independently verified. Iran had also reported that a tanker struck a mine east of the Strait of Hormuz on November 8.
The United States has separately reported disabling a commercial vessel on November 7 after alleging that it had attempted to breach the naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian state media also reported US strikes against military installations on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. A senior Iranian source said the reported targets included radar systems, missile launcher bases and facilities used for laying naval mines. The United States had not publicly confirmed the specific overnight operation.
The continuing confrontation has raised concerns about international energy supplies and maritime trade. Before the war, approximately one fifth of global oil supplies passed through the Strait of Hormuz, making any prolonged disruption a major concern for energy importing countries.
The conflict has also increased regional tensions beyond Iran and the United States. Yemen's Houthi movement recently claimed responsibility for an attack targeting a building belonging to Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco in Riyadh. Saudi authorities acknowledged damage from an attempted attack but did not independently establish responsibility in their public statement.
Despite the renewed diplomatic activity, the differences between Washington and Tehran remain substantial. The future of Iran's nuclear programme, the lifting of sanctions, control of maritime routes and the scope of any regional ceasefire are among the most difficult issues facing negotiators.
Qatar's mediation could provide another opportunity to narrow these differences, but Iran's proposal has yet to secure US acceptance. With military tensions continuing alongside diplomatic contacts, the prospects for an immediate settlement remain uncertain.