Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Iran has proposed a fresh diplomatic breakthrough: reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war with the United States, while putting substantive nuclear‑program negotiations on hold for now. Tehran’s offer, communicated through Pakistani and Omani intermediaries, seeks to ease the US led naval blockade and restore shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints without immediately tying it to concessions on its nuclear activities. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the meeting a valuable opportunity to coordinate positions on the ongoing conflict and regional security.

Iran has put forward a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war with the United States, while delaying nuclear program talks to a later stage. The plan, relayed through Pakistani mediators, aims to break the diplomatic stalemate by prioritising an end to hostilities and the removal of the US naval blockade before returning to the more contentious nuclear file. Following shuttle diplomacy in Pakistan and Oman, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in St Petersburg for talks with President Vladimir Putin, calling the visit an opportunity to align Moscow with Tehran’s vision for regional security. Iranian officials emphasise that Russia should be part of any Gulf‑security framework, including arrangements around the Strait, to ensure a multilateral rather than purely US driven resolution. Washington, however, remains cautious, insisting that reopening the Strait cannot be fully separated from broader security concerns, including Iran’s missile program and regional proxies. With earlier ceasefire offers rejected as maximalist, both sides are now testing whether a phased, step by step approach can de‑escalate tensions or deepen the current standoff in the Gulf.

By separating the Strait of Hormuz crisis from the nuclear file, Iran aims to build momentum for a de‑escalation that could relieve pressure on its economy and shipping lanes. The talks with Putin in St Petersburg are likely to test whether Moscow can act as a stabilising partner in this process, or whether deeper divisions among Iran, the US, and Russia will keep the standoff in the Gulf frozen. Whatever emerges from these discussions will shape not only the fate of the Strait, but also the broader trajectory of the Israel Iran linked conflict in the Middle East.