As the US President Donald Trump called Iran’s proposal sent to Washington via Pakistani mediators “unacceptable,” Iran has signalled that it is ready to talk about the issue of nuclear weapons. The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Tehran remains prepared to discuss its nuclear program “when the time comes,” even as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict face significant friction, and the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, impacting global energy.
Iran’s statement marks a potential pivot in the ongoing hostilities, even as a broader peace deal remains elusive. Officials in Tehran are hinting at keeping the channel for dialogue open by raising the prospect of nuclear de-escalation.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said, ”At the current stage, our attention is focused on ending the war. What decisions will be made later on the nuclear issue, Iranian nuclear materials and issues related to uranium enrichment, and what options we will consider are all issues that we will definitely discuss when the time comes.”
The announcement coincided with the exchange of non-papers and memos between Washington and Tehran, mediated largely by third-party actors, including the US’s Gulf allies and Pakistan.
Iran, commenting on Trump’s response, has reiterated that its demands in the proposal are legitimate. “Our demands are legitimate. Demands to stop the war, end the blockade and piracy, and unfreeze Iran’s assets, which are unfairly frozen in banks due to US pressure. Ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon were also among Iran’s demands,” Baghaei told a briefing.
Despite the openness to nuclear dialogue, Iranian officials were also quick to temper expectations, noting that the climate of “maximum pressure” and active military engagement makes immediate breakthroughs unlikely.
Failed Frameworks
Both the US and Iran are currently dissecting a memorandum intended to serve as a framework for a cessation of hostilities in the Middle East. While the exact contents of the document remain classified, sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that the “memo” focuses on a phased withdrawal of the US forces and a freeze on long-range missile testing.
However, the disconnect between the two sides remains, with the White House demanding immediate concessions that Tehran views as an infringement on its national security.
According to multiple sources, the response to the peace proposal has been complicated by the inclusion of the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear enrichment levels in the same diplomatic package.
While the US seeks what sources describe as the comprehensive “grand bargain,” Iranian negotiators are pushing for a narrower focus on sanctions relief and the unfreezing of assets before committing to any broader regional or nuclear constraints as demanded by Trump.
“Unreasonable Demands” Stalled Progress?
Tehran’s rhetoric turned sharp on Monday afternoon as the Iranian government accused the Trump administration of moving the goalposts and forcing Iran “to surrender” by making it agree to “unacceptable” terms.
Iranian officials labelled recent US stipulations in the negotiations as “unreasonable demands,” citing Trump’s insistence on the permanent dismantling of its nuclear facilities as a “prerequisite” for a ceasefire.
“The United States is following a path of coercion rather than diplomacy,” a spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated during a press briefing in Tehran. The ministry emphasised that while they are ready for dialogue, they will not negotiate under the “shadow of a threat.”
This sentiment was echoed by Iran’s state-run agencies, which reported that the domestic pressure on the Iranian leadership to maintain a hardline stance has increased as the humanitarian toll from the US attacks in the conflict rises.
Nuclear Issue Back on the Table
In the midst of the collapse of several ceasefire sub-clauses and a deadlock, the nuclear issue is back on the table. With Iran willing to hold talks with the US, there’s a glimmer of hope. Iran’s statement agreeing to discuss nuclear issues “when the time comes” is a strategic signal intended to prevent a total breakdown in communication with the Trump administration.
By separating the nuclear issue from the immediate territorial and maritime disputes, Tehran may be attempting to create a “de-escalation ladder” that allows both sides to save face, the analysts have said.
Several reports from the ground indicate that the reality on the front lines remains far more volatile than the statements coming out of the foreign ministries.
As US President Trump weighs the Iranian counter-proposals, the US military posture in the region remains at its highest readiness level in decades, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu making remarks at a television interview that the war in Iran is not over. Analysts warn that without a significant breakthrough on the “unreasonable” demands cited by Tehran, the window for a negotiated peace, nuclear or otherwise, may be closing in favour of a protracted war in the months to follow.
