Iran and United States are engaged in back-channel diplomacy via mediator Pakistan, in an attempt to find a permanent solution to the conflict in the Middle East. Reports say that Tehran is reviewing US response to its proposal as Iran’s nuclear program, control of Strait of Hormuz, economic sanctions on Iran and freezing of its international assets remain key blocking issues, that are resisting a peaceful way out to the war.
Iran’s war strategy has been to keep a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, blocking oil and gas exports and causing a global energy crisis. At the same time, it has struck hard against oil facilities, hotels and infrastructure in Gulf Arab nations.
In negotiations, it has held out against U.S. demands that it surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, betting that it can outlast the U.S. in the ongoing standoff and that President Donald Trump will be reluctant to resume outright war that could bring greater damage to America’s Gulf allies.
