Iran reviews US proposal as Pakistan mediates; Trump warns talks at ‘borderline’

Iran said Wednesday it is reviewing the latest U.S. response to its proposal to end the nearly three-month war, as mediator Pakistan intensified efforts to advance negotiations that U.S. President Donald Trump warned are on the “borderline” between a deal and renewed strikes.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said late Wednesday that Iran has “received US views and are reviewing them,” according to Iranian state agency Nour News.

Six weeks after a ceasefire took effect, efforts to end the war permanently have intensified, with Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, scheduled to travel to Tehran on Thursday for “talks and consultations” with Iranian authorities, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported.

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Iran on Wednesday for his second visit in less than a week to discuss Washington’s latest proposal.

In April, Pakistan hosted the only direct negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials since the war began on February 28.

Munir was central to those talks, which ultimately failed as Iran accused the United States of making “excessive demands.”

Munir’s announced visit comes a day after Trump warned that talks were on the “borderline” between a deal and the U.S. renewing attacks on Iran.

“Believe me, if we don’t get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We’re all ready to go,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Trump, who has repeatedly set deadlines for Iran to reach a deal only to delay or cancel them, said he was willing to wait a few days to “get the right answers” from Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that his ministry was ready for either talks or a return to fighting.

“Wherever it is necessary to fight, we will fight, and wherever it is necessary to negotiate, we will negotiate,” he said.

“If necessary and if the interests of the system require it, we will be present in the field of diplomacy, dialogue and negotiation with the same determination and strength that the armed forces demonstrate in defending the country.”

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned against renewed attacks. “If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time,” it said in a statement.

Iran submitted its latest proposal to the U.S. this week. According to Nour News, the proposal was based on Tehran’s original 14-point proposal, which included demands for Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, reparations for war damage, lifting of sanctions, release of frozen assets and the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Scott Lucas, professor of U.S. and international politics at University College Dublin’s Clinton Institute, said the momentum was on Iran’s side.

“Iran has the initiative because it formulated a 14-point proposal and, in doing so, shifted the focus to the Strait of Hormuz rather than the nuclear programme. Iran was using its strongest form of leverage, which put Washington on the defensive. Now, the US is scrambling to bring the nuclear file back to the forefront of negotiations.”

“The US does not want to find itself in a worse position than it was on February 26 when it walked away from talks. It’s also worth noting that curbs on Iran’s ballistic missile programme are no longer being discussed nor are Tehran’s links to groups such as Hezbollah.”

“Eventually, I think a settlement will be reached, but we’re dealing with a chaotic and unpredictable president [Trump], so a return to war cannot be ruled out.”

Iran has been under a U.S. naval blockade since mid-April, launched by Trump in a bid to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and accept his terms for a deal.

The U.S. has boarded at least five vessels since the blockade came into effect. On Wednesday, the U.S. military’s Central Command said a ship was searched and redirected after being suspected of trying to travel to an Iranian port.