Negotiators face huge task to close gaps in rival Iran peace proposals

Negotiators face huge task to close gaps in rival Iran peace proposals

As the clock ticked down toward a self-imposed deadline, US President Donald Trump declared a two-week ceasefire to halt hostilities. The agreement came amid an unprecedented threat to erase Iran’s “civilisation” from existence. Pakistan, acting as mediators, is set to convene American and Iranian representatives in Islamabad, with discussions possibly beginning as early as Friday.

Despite the ceasefire, significant discrepancies persist between the two nations’ positions. Trump shared a 10-point Iranian proposal on Truth Social, labeling it a “workable basis on which to negotiate.” Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi referenced the US’s 15-point plan, which officials claim could resolve the conflict. However, neither proposal has been officially disclosed, though leaked versions show stark contrasts in expectations.

“A lot of details are not very clear,” said Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic adviser to the UAE president. “There are different statements coming out of Iran, from Washington, and from the Pakistani mediator. So, we need to reconcile the details of these statements and understand exactly what the way forward is.”

The core of the ongoing talks remains the foundation of the negotiations. The US accuses Iran of accelerating its nuclear weapons program, a claim Tehran has consistently denied. American officials argue that enough damage has been inflicted since last year’s 12-day war and recent US-Israeli strikes to ensure Iran cannot quickly rebuild a nuclear threat. Yet, uncertainties linger over 440kg of highly enriched uranium still held by Iran.

According to Trump, the uranium—referred to as “dust”—is buried under the rubble of Iran’s Nuclear Technology/Research Centre in Isfahan, following last year’s attacks. “Their dust is deeply buried and watched 24/7,” stated US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. “There will be no Iranian nuclear weapons. Period. Full stop.”

Iran insists any resolution must recognize its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Oman, which mediated before the war began, suggested a feasible agreement is now on the table. However, the US’s 15-point plan demands more: Iran must dismantle major nuclear facilities, halt enrichment on its soil, and accept intrusive inspections. While Hegseth confirmed the plan’s focus on preventing nuclear capability, he offered a slightly softer stance.

“Iran would ‘never have a nuclear weapon or the capability to get a path to one,'” Hegseth said, hinting at the proposal’s emphasis on curbing, rather than fully eliminating, nuclear threats.

Another key element is Iran’s ballistic missile program. The US argues this program shielded its nuclear ambitions, but the Pentagon claims 80% of its missile facilities and 90% of its weapons factories have been destroyed. Gen Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted the damage to Iran’s air defence systems as well. Tehran, which previously resisted limits on its missile capabilities, now faces pressure to compromise.

Meanwhile, Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz—a vital global shipping route—has been a major strategic gain. Its recent willingness to reopen the strait signals a potential easing of economic pressures that have mounted over the past month.