Washington and Tehran are engaged in negotiations as President Donald Trump voiced optimism about ending a nearly month-long conflict, while Iran announced it would allow “non-hostile” oil vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump Announces Peace Plan, Iran Signals De-escalation
The tentative signs of a diplomatic solution emerged despite ongoing violence, including an Iranian missile strike that injured people in Israel, which in turn pressed on multiple fronts and vowed to seize control of a strip of southern Lebanon.
Trump stated the United States is “in negotiations right now” with Iran, though Tehran has not confirmed any formal talks. He claimed Iran provided the U.S. with “a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money,” relating to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had largely blockaded, driving up global energy prices.
Iran, through the International Maritime Organization, assured safe passage to “non-hostile vessels” through the strait, a critical waterway for approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. While Iran has stated it is not targeting friendly nations, many vessels have avoided the area due to insurance risks.
Trump had previously threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the strait wasn’t reopened, but extended the deadline by five days, citing diplomatic progress.
Pakistan Offers to Host Talks
Pakistan’s prime minister has offered to host US-Iran talks, which Trump said would include top officials such as Vice-President J.D. Vance. Trump indicated the core of the plan is preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
According to The New York Times, the United States sent a 15-point plan to Iran through Pakistan. Israel’s Channel 12 reported the proposal includes a one-month ceasefire, during which Iran would hand over enriched uranium and agree to halt further enrichment.
The proposed plan also includes ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, an end to all sanctions imposed on Iran, and assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at the Bushehr site.
Escalating Violence and Regional Concerns
Iran accused Israel of a second strike on Bushehr, located near Gulf Arab population centers. A resident of Tehran described a daily life now marked by “sounds, the explosions, the missiles.”
Iran had previously agreed to restraints on its nuclear program in a 2015 deal that Trump withdrew from during his first term. The reported new proposal would maintain the current Islamic republic despite earlier calls for regime change.
Despite Trump’s hopes for diplomacy, The Wall Street Journal reported the U.S. is planning to deploy 3,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. U.S. and Israeli forces launched an attack on Feb 28, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, just days before Trump’s envoys were negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran.
Iranian missiles have increasingly penetrated Israeli defenses, causing damage in Tel Aviv. On March 24, more than a dozen people, including an infant, were injured in Israel. Israel responded with “large wave” of airstrikes across Iran, stating its war plan remains “unchanged” and will continue to “deepen the damage and remove existential threats.”
Lebanon and Regional Involvement
Israel has also intensified its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, aiming to take control of south Lebanon up to the Litani river. Israel, which previously occupied southern Lebanon until 2000, carried out new strikes and warned residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate.
The conflict in Lebanon has resulted in at least 1,072 deaths and displaced over one million people, according to Lebanese authorities. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 in response to the killing of Khamenei.
Lebanon’s government has grown more assertive, ordering the Iranian ambassador to leave, accusing Iran of interference and commanding Hezbollah operations. Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia all reported intercepting renewed drone and missile attacks from Iran.
Oil prices, which had decreased following Trump’s discussion of talks, rebounded slightly on March 24, with Brent crude returning to above US$100 a barrel.
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