Iran sends its response to US peace proposal via Pakistan

Iran sent its response to the latest U.S. proposal to end the regional war through Pakistani mediators on Sunday, Iranian state media reported. The official IRNA news agency confirmed the delivery without disclosing the contents of either the proposal or Tehran's reply.

What is Iran's response to the U.S. peace proposal?

Iran's response focuses on ending the war and maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, according to the ISNA news agency. Tehran has not released the full text. Pakistan acted as the intermediary in passing the reply to Washington.

What did Iran say about the Strait of Hormuz?

Hours before the diplomatic reply was confirmed, Iran's army warned that countries complying with U.S. sanctions would face difficulties crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Army official Mohammad Akraminia told IRNA that Iran had established a new legal and security framework requiring all vessels to coordinate with Iranian authorities before passing through the waterway. The system is now in force, he said, and would deliver economic, security, and political benefits to Iran.

The warning followed Washington's decision to impose new sanctions on Iranian interests and instruct ships not to pay Tehran's transit tolls for using the strait. The waterway has become a major flashpoint since the war began on 28 February.

How has Iran restricted Strait of Hormuz traffic?

Iran has allowed only a trickle of vessels through the strait since the conflict began. In peacetime, the waterway carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas flows, along with other vital commodities. Last month, Iranian deputy parliament speaker Hamidreza Hajibabaei confirmed that Tehran had collected its first revenue from the tolls imposed on strait traffic, a development that has raised alarm among global shipping interests and major oil importers.