Pakistan has delivered a United States proposal to Iran aimed at reducing tensions in the ongoing Gulf conflict, a senior Pakistani security official said on Wednesday.
According to the official, Pakistani intelligence conveyed the proposal to Iranian authorities and Islamabad is still awaiting a formal response from Tehran.
The development follows reports that the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump prepared a diplomatic framework designed to halt nearly four weeks of war in the region.
A senior Iranian official confirmed earlier that Tehran had received the proposal through Pakistan. The official also indicated that potential negotiations, if they proceed, could take place either in Pakistan or Turkey.
However, Iranian authorities have publicly maintained that no formal negotiations are currently under way with Washington.
The Iranian source, speaking anonymously, did not disclose the details of the proposal or confirm whether it matches a reported 15-point plan drafted by the United States.
Reports of the diplomatic initiative helped calm global markets on Wednesday. Oil prices fell and stock markets recovered slightly as investors hoped the conflict could move toward a negotiated settlement.
The Pakistani official said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had also followed up with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi regarding the proposal.
So far, Tehran has not given a formal response or confirmed any possible dates or location for talks, the official added.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials said the government of Benjamin Netanyahu had been briefed on the U.S. proposal. According to Israeli cabinet sources, the plan includes measures such as removing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, halting further uranium enrichment, limiting its ballistic missile programme and ending financial support for allied groups in the region.
At the same time, the United States Department of Defense is reportedly preparing to deploy thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf region, potentially giving Washington additional military options if the conflict escalates.
According to sources familiar with the plans, the troop deployment would add to two contingents of United States Marine Corps forces already heading to the region. The first Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard a large amphibious assault ship could arrive by the end of the month.
The conflict has already killed thousands of people and disrupted global energy supplies, increasing international pressure for a diplomatic resolution.
