Iranian media reported on Monday that the United States has offered an interim waiver on oil sanctions against Iran as negotiations continue. The claim comes as Tehran sent a new peace proposal to Washington via Pakistan, with terms that appear similar to previous offers rejected by US President Donald Trump.
Iran's New Proposal and US Response
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the US has softened its positions on some issues. The proposal, as described by the source, focuses first on securing an end to the war in West Asia, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting maritime sanctions. Contentious issues regarding Iran's nuclear programme and uranium enrichment would be deferred to later rounds of talks.
However, the senior Iranian source said the US has agreed to release a quarter of Iran's frozen funds, totaling tens of billions of dollars, held in foreign banks. The source also indicated that Washington has shown more flexibility in allowing Iran to continue some peaceful nuclear activities.
Pakistan's Role as Mediator
A Pakistani source confirmed that Islamabad, which hosted the only round of peace talks last month, has shared the latest proposal with Washington. But the source suggested progress has been difficult, noting that the sides “keep changing their goalposts” and that “we don’t have much time.”
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that Tehran’s views had been “conveyed to the American side through Pakistan” but gave no details. Washington did not immediately comment on the proposal.
Oil Sanctions Waiver Claim
Iran’s Tasnim news agency quoted an unidentified source as saying the US had agreed to waive oil sanctions on Iran while negotiations are under way. Iranian officials did not immediately comment on the Tasnim report. However, a US official, who declined to be named, said the report was false.
The development comes after President Trump last week rejected a similar Iranian offer as “garbage.” The latest proposal appears to maintain Iran's core demand for an immediate end to sanctions before discussing nuclear issues, a stance Washington has previously opposed.
