Washington has offered phased sanctions relief and an end to its naval blockade in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks by Iran-aligned forces, according to a report
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir carried a fresh US-drafted framework to Tehran during his August 23 visit, under which Washington would lift its naval blockade and ease sanctions in stages in return for Iran fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Saudi broadcaster Al Hadath.
The reported proposal, which has not been confirmed by either Washington or Tehran, comes amid renewed efforts to revive the faltering Islamabad memorandum that underpinned the US-Iran ceasefire.
Pakistan has again positioned itself as the primary intermediary between the two sides.
According to Al Hadath, Munir spoke with US President Donald Trump by phone before travelling to Tehran.
Under the reported framework, Washington asked Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent retaliatory operations by allied groups in the region in exchange for lifting the naval blockade and gradually reducing sanctions.
Meanwhile, Al Arabiya separately reported, citing a source, that the US had proposed halting the blockade and removing sanctions in return for the reopening of the strait and an end to attacks by Iran-aligned forces.
Some Western sources, citing the Pakistani envoy’s critical tone, said Islamabad had explicitly blamed both Washington and Tehran for the current deadlock, accusing both sides of overreach and inflexibility.
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Iranian officials, meanwhile, used the meetings to reiterate Tehran’s red lines, including its demand for the lifting of all US sanctions.
Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) secretary Mohsen Rezaei warned that continued economic warfare and the blockade would not go unanswered and could further threaten regional energy-export security.
President Masoud Pezeshkian told Munir that a change in what he described as Washington’s threatening behaviour was the only way out of the impasse, signalling that Tehran would not retreat under pressure.
“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and I had a very positive and productive meeting with the President of Iran. Our discussion focused on the Iran US conflict, tensions in the Middle East and the way forward, as well as the steps needed by both sides for restoration of the Islamabad MoU thereby leading to comprehensive settlement of the conflict. The Iranian President candidly shared his Government’s perspective and concerns, and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved,” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied Munir to Tehran, said in a post on X.
“Significant progress was made, and the meeting concluded on a highly positive note. We remain hopeful that this momentum will help pave the way for further progress and lasting peace in the region,” he added
Attention now turns to Iran’s formal response and next week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, where Pezeshkian is expected to meet Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines.
The meeting could prove important in determining whether the region moves towards a fragile agreement or a fresh confrontation over one of the world’s key energy chokepoints.
With inputs from agencies