The United States has delivered a 15-point plan to Iran in an effort to end the ongoing war in the Middle East, according to two officials briefed on the matter, The New York Times reports.
The proposal, transmitted through Pakistan, underscores the Trump administration’s urgency to secure a diplomatic offramp as the conflict’s economic consequences deepen.
It remains uncertain how widely the plan has been circulated within Iran’s leadership or whether Tehran is prepared to treat it as a foundation for negotiations. Equally unclear is Israel’s position, given its joint bombing campaign with the United States against Iranian targets.
The plan’s delivery signals Washington’s intensified push to conclude a war now entering its fourth week, a conflict that has already drawn in multiple regional actors.
Officials familiar with its contents said it addresses Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and nuclear programme. Since the campaign began on 28 February, US and Israeli forces have struck missile launchers, production facilities, and nuclear sites, reiterating their vow to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Despite these strikes, Iran continues to fire missiles at Israel and neighboring Arab states and retains 440 kilograms of highly enriched uranium.
One official noted that the plan also touches on maritime security. Since the war’s outbreak, Iran has disrupted global shipping by restricting Western vessels’ passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for oil and gas exports. The blockade has driven energy prices sharply upward.
For now, Israeli officials anticipate the war will persist for weeks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed diplomatic efforts were underway but emphasized that “Operation Epic Fury continues unabated to achieve the military objectives laid out by the commander in chief and the Pentagon.”
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has emerged as a central mediator between Washington and Tehran, with Egypt and Turkey urging Iran to engage. Munir’s longstanding ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards position him as a trusted conduit for sensitive communications.
He recently approached Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker and former Guards commander, suggesting Pakistan host direct talks between Iran and the US, according to officials from both countries.
Munir met President Trump twice in 2025, earning praise from the US leader, who described him as his “favorite field marshal.” On Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly declared his country’s readiness to facilitate “meaningful and conclusive talks” if both Washington and Tehran agree.
Iran’s ability to respond swiftly remains in doubt. Internal communication among senior officials has been strained, and fears of Israeli strikes loom over any potential in-person meetings.
On the war’s first day, Israel bombed a leadership compound in Tehran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top officials. The question of who now holds ultimate authority over Iran’s war and peace decisions remains unresolved.
The White House’s eagerness to negotiate suggests President Trump may be willing to tolerate the current Iranian regime in a weakened state, despite earlier ambiguity over whether regime change was a war objective.
Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have alternated between signaling and downplaying such demands.
