Iran Reviews New U.S. Diplomatic Proposals as Hormuz Standoff Intensifies

Tehran evaluates new U.S. diplomatic proposals but refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. naval blockade is lifted. Read the latest on the 2026 war.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 10:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AP

Intermediary Diplomacy Reaches Critical Phase

Iran has officially acknowledged receipt of fresh diplomatic proposals from the United States, delivered by Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir during his high-stakes visit to Tehran. The Supreme National Security Council stated that while the documents are under active review, a formal response remains pending. These proposals reportedly form part of the "Islamabad Framework," which seeks to transition the current fragile ceasefire into a permanent settlement involving nuclear limits and sanctions relief. However, Tehran warned that any breakthrough requires Washington to abandon "excessive demands" and align its expectations with the current military and political realities on the ground.

Strategic Reversal in the Strait of Hormuz

In a significant escalation, the Council declared that Iran will maintain "full control" over all traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until a lasting peace is achieved. This move reverses a brief Friday opening and introduces a new regulatory regime for international shipping. Under the current "Strait of Hormuz Management Plan," all passing vessels are now required to submit detailed ownership and cargo manifests to the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), obtain transit certificates, and pay mandatory tolls. Industry reports suggest these fees can reach up to $2 million per tanker, with payments often settled in digital assets or Chinese yuan to bypass U.S. correspondent banking.

Blockade Accusations Threaten Ceasefire Stability

Tehran has explicitly linked the reopening of the strait to the cessation of the U.S. naval blockade, which began on April 13, 2026. The Iranian government characterized the U.S. policy—which intercepts ships traveling to and from Iranian ports—as a "violation of the ceasefire" and an act of state piracy. While the U.S. maintains the blockade is a legal tool of economic pressure intended to force a denuclearization deal, Iran argues that the blockade prevents the mutual "freedom of navigation" that was a perceived prerequisite of the April 8 truce.