Iran has sent the U.S. a new proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the weekend failed to produce any progress in negotiations, according to a new report.
Axios detailed that the proposal contemplates the two topics but would leave nuclear negotiations for a later stage, bypassing the most sticking point of talks between the countries to reach a deal more quickly.
The ceasefire would lead to the end of hostilities and the reopening of the key waterway, lasting for an extended period and allowing for nuclear talks to be continued later.
President Donald Trump, the outlet added, has not given a response to the proposal, which would remove the U.S.'s most important leverage to guarantee the removal of Tehran's nuclear stockpile and guarantees that it won't continue enriching uranium or attempt to produce a weapon in the future.
The president is expected to hold a meeting in the Situation Room with top national security and foreign policy officials on Monday to assess the current situation and future steps.
Trump appeared to hint in an interview with Fox News that he intends to continue with the blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz to choke Tehran's finances and inventories. "They say they only have about three days before that happens," he said.
Negotiations continued to be deadlocked during the weekend. Trump cancelled a trip from special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan on Saturday after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left the country without meeting them.
"I see no point of sending them on an 18-hour flight in the current situation. It's too long. We can do it just as well by telephone. The Iranians can call us if they want. We are not gonna travel just to sit there," Trump said.
Araghchi then returned to Pakistan for further talks, where he discussed the proposal to leave nuclear talks outside the equation.
In the meantime, another report detailed that the U.S. military is developing plans to target Iran's defenses around the Strait of Hormuz if the current ceasefire collapses.
Citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, CNN reported that the plans under discussion include strikes against Iranian fast-attack boats, minelaying vessels, coastal defense systems, and other assets that have helped Tehran restrict movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the U.S. Central Command is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports and had turned around 34 ships as of Friday morning. He said U.S. forces were prepared to intercept vessels heading to or from Iranian ports, regardless of nationality. Hegseth also warned that any Iranian effort to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz would violate the ceasefire.
