Key facts
- Iran announced on Wednesday it received a U.S. response to its proposal to revive a collapsed ceasefire.
- President Donald Trump had previously rejected the proposal.
- The U.S. completed the withdrawal of its last troops from Iraq on Wednesday.
- Iran views the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as a victory for its regional allies.
- Three tankers were reportedly struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
Iran announced on Wednesday that it had received a response from the United States to its latest proposal aimed at reviving a collapsed ceasefire in the Gulf. This development follows President Donald Trump's earlier rejection of the proposal.
Simultaneously, the U.S. completed the withdrawal of its final forces from Iraq. Iran and its allies celebrated this pullout, viewing it as a significant victory and a step toward their goal of expelling U.S. troops from the region. The U.S. military confirmed the completion of its 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group in Iraq, a withdrawal initially agreed upon in 2024.
Iran's proposal, put forward last week, suggested the U.S. would lift its blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. While Trump stated he rejected the proposal, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated that a formal rejection had not been received. Araqchi conveyed the U.S. response to the Iranian government on Wednesday.
Proximity talks between the U.S. and Iran, mediated by Qatar, took place in New York. An official familiar with the talks indicated that while the sides largely agree on the necessary steps, disagreements persist regarding the order of implementation. Iran seeks control over the Strait of Hormuz as part of an eventual deal.
In related maritime incidents, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that three ships were struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The strait is a critical global oil shipping route, with flows of crude oil, refined products, and natural gas remaining substantially disrupted due to ongoing tensions.