ISLAMABAD: Iran has submitted its latest proposal for negotiations with the United States to mediator Pakistan, Iranian state media reported on Friday.
IRNA reported that according to its foreign policy correspondent, the country “delivered the text of its latest negotiation plan to Pakistan on Thursday evening, May 10, as a mediator in negotiations with the US”.
Earlier, a senior United Arab Emirates official said that Tehran could not be trusted over any unilateral arrangements it makes for the Strait of Hormuz, in a sign of deep mistrust on all sides as efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran remained at an impasse.
Two months into the conflict, the vital sea channel is still largely closed because of an Iranian blockade and the US Navy is blocking exports of Iranian crude oil. The blockade has choked off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies, pushing up global energy prices and increasing concerns that there will be an economic downturn.
A ceasefire has been in place since April 8 but reports that US President Donald Trump was to be briefed on plans for new military strikes to compel Iran to negotiate pushed global oil prices up to a four-year high at one point on Thursday.
Iran has activated air defences and plans a wide response if attacked, having assessed that there will be a short, intensive US strike, possibly followed by an Israeli attack, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
