A one-page US proposal to end the war… Why is Iran taking time to respond?
Negotiations are underway between the US and Iran to end the war, but no final agreement has yet been reached. The US sent Iran a 14-point proposal on May 6th. This one-page proposal calls for a halt to the war and paves the way for further negotiations. However, Iran has not yet responded. US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had hoped Iran would respond by May 8th. However, Iran stated that it is still carefully reviewing the US proposal and that any agreement will only be fair and balanced.
Key points of the US proposal
The US proposal includes several significant conditions. It states that Iran must cease uranium enrichment for at least 12 years. The US also wants Iran to hand over the approximately 440 kg of 60% enriched uranium it possesses. The US says that if Iran enriches to 90%, it could develop nuclear weapons.
Additionally, the US wants Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days. This sea route is crucial for approximately 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies. In return, the US is willing to lift some longstanding sanctions and return frozen Iranian assets.
Why is Iran taking time to respond?
According to Al Jazeera, the wording of this proposal is quite technical. According to the report, Iranian officials are carefully reviewing every word and date of the document. Iran has multiple centers of power. A response will not be sent to the US until all of them have approved it. The final decision rests with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Experts say Iran also wants to demonstrate that it will not be pressured into making decisions and that it has a strong negotiating position. On the other hand, the US, lacking experience in such diplomatic negotiations, wants a quick deal. This is also confirmed by Trump's continued statements.
What conditions has Iran put forward?
According to Al Jazeera, Iranian officials are working on a three-phase approach. The first phase will last 30 days. During this time, Iran will negotiate a permanent end to the war on all fronts. This includes stopping attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. This is a difficult guarantee for the US to provide.
Iran wants the war to end completely and prevent any future attacks. Iran wants the United Nations Security Council to guarantee this. Iran is also demanding the lifting of all economic sanctions, the return of frozen assets, and an end to the US blockade. The biggest dispute remains over the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear program. The US wants Iran to relinquish its claim to control this sea route, but Iran appears unwilling to do so. This is why negotiations are taking time.
