Tehran reviews US plan while publicly rejecting talks with Trump

Iran’s stance on US proposal: Iran is reviewing a U.S. plan aimed at ending the Gulf conflict but does not intend to enter direct talks to resolve the broader Middle East war, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Wednesday. His remarks indicate Tehran may be open to a negotiated outcome if its conditions are met. However, he stressed that messages conveyed through intermediaries should not be interpreted as direct negotiations with Washington.

Trump’s May visit to China: U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in May during his first trip to China in eight years, after postponing the visit due to the ongoing Iran conflict. The rescheduled trip highlights Trump’s effort to project confidence amid tensions in the Middle East while also managing a strained relationship between the world’s two largest economies. Originally planned for next week, the visit will now take place in Beijing on May 14–15, according to a Truth Social post on Wednesday. Discussions with Xi are expected to focus on trade, following a tariff dispute that eased in late 2025.

Strait of Hormuz: International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said roughly 2,000 vessels and 20,000 sailors are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a serious disruption to global shipping. He warned that prolonged delays are increasing mental strain and fatigue among crews, while essential supplies are running low. Dominguez also noted that many insurers are refusing coverage, with some cancelling policies or significantly raising premiums.

Iran is continuing to review a U.S. proposal to end the Gulf conflict, despite an initially negative reaction, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday, suggesting Tehran has not yet rejected it outright.

Publicly, Iranian officials have dismissed the idea of negotiating with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. However, a delay in delivering a formal response to Pakistan—which conveyed a 15-point proposal on Washington’s behalf—indicates that some within Tehran may still be weighing the offer.

The senior official’s remarks that the proposal remains under consideration, despite an unfavorable initial response, contrast with a report by Iran’s Press TV claiming it had been rejected.

Pakistani officials said they are still awaiting a formal reply. One senior security official confirmed follow-up discussions with Iran’s foreign minister, while another source said Tehran had indicated it would respond later, adding that no official confirmation has been received. The source also noted that communication has been difficult under current conditions.

Earlier, another Iranian official confirmed receipt of the proposal and said that, if talks proceed, they could take place in either Pakistan or Turkey.Markets respond positively to proposal: Global equity markets edged higher and oil prices fell on Wednesday after reports that Washington had sent a proposal to Iran, raising hopes for an end to a conflict that has disrupted energy supplies and heightened inflation concerns.

Three Israeli cabinet sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet had been briefed on the U.S. plan, which reportedly includes eliminating Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, stopping enrichment activities, limiting its ballistic missile program, and ending support for regional allies.

However, a senior Israeli defense official expressed doubt that Iran would accept the terms and voiced concern that U.S. negotiators could make concessions. Another source said Israel also wants any deal to preserve its ability to carry out pre-emptive strikes if necessary.

The White House has not revealed details of the proposal but warned it could intensify military action. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that if Iran fails to recognize its military position, President Donald Trump would escalate strikes further.

Troops on the move: The Pentagon is reportedly preparing to deploy thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf, expanding military options that could include a ground offensive. This would add to two Marine contingents already en route, with the first unit—aboard a large amphibious assault ship—expected to arrive by the end of the month.Iran could open a new front near the Red Sea if its territory is attacked, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, which cited an unnamed military source on Wednesday. The source said Iran is capable of posing a “credible threat” in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key waterway between Yemen and Djibouti.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf also warned that Iran would strike an unspecified neighboring country if it cooperated with what he described as enemy efforts to seize one of Iran’s islands.

Since the launch of what the U.S. calls “Operation Epic Fury,” Iran has targeted countries hosting U.S. bases and effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the world is “staring down the barrel of a wider war” in the region. Urging restraint, he said it was time to stop escalating tensions and instead pursue diplomatic solutions.More strikes: The conflict continues unabated, with ongoing airstrikes on Iran and retaliatory drone and missile attacks by Tehran targeting Israel and U.S. allies.

An Israeli military official said operations remain largely unchanged despite comments from President Donald Trump about potential talks, describing the situation as “business as usual.” Israel reported launching fresh waves of strikes on Iranian naval shipyards and other targets.

Iranian media said a residential area in Tehran was hit, with rescue teams searching through the debris. Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had carried out new attacks against Israel as well as U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain.