Iran says it has sent response to US peace proposal
Iran has sent a response to the U.S. peace proposal via mediator Pakistan, focusing initially on ending the war, while a Qatari gas tanker became the first to pass through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began on February 28. Despite a month-old ceasefire, drone attacks and clashes involving Gulf countries, the UAE, and U.S. vessels have persisted, raising concerns over regional stability and global energy supplies.
Iran submitted its reply to the U.S. proposal for peace talks to end the war, directing the response through Pakistan as the mediator, according to the IRNA news agency. The focus remains on halting hostilities, though no further details were disclosed. The move followed the passage of the Qatari gas tanker *Al Kharaitiyat* through the Strait of Hormuz, the first such vessel since the U.S. and Israel initiated military action on February 28. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, has been a flashpoint in the conflict, with Iran restricting non-Iranian shipping. Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani urged Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to avoid using the strait as a ‘pressure tool,’ emphasizing the need to maintain freedom of navigation. Iranian lawmakers are reportedly drafting legislation to formalize control over the strait, including banning vessels from ‘hostile states.’ Despite a ceasefire declared a month ago, tensions persist. The UAE intercepted two Iranian drones on Sunday, while Qatar condemned an attack on a cargo ship in its waters. Kuwait also reported drone incursions into its airspace. The U.S. has imposed a blockade on Iranian vessels, though Tehran has yet to fully engage in resolving the conflict, which has strained global energy markets and fueled domestic political pressure in the U.S. A CIA assessment suggested Iran would not face severe economic strain from the U.S. blockade for at least four months, though a senior intelligence official dismissed earlier claims about the analysis as false. The conflict has drawn limited international support, complicating diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. With U.S. President Donald Trump set to visit China, calls to resolve the war have intensified amid rising gasoline prices and economic concerns.
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