Pakistan delivered US proposal to Iran, says senior Iranian source

Pakistan has delivered a US proposal to Iran, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday, but the venue of any talks between Tehran and Washington to end the war has yet to be decided.

The source, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, did not disclose details of the proposal or whether it was the reported 15-point US framework to end the war.

The source added that Turkey was helping explore ways to end the war and said that “either Turkey or Pakistan is under consideration as the venue for such talks”.

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran escalated sharply after the February 28th "pre-emptive" attack against Iran by the US and Israel following a series of direct military exchanges, marking one of the most dangerous confrontations between the two in years.

Also Read: No negotiations between US, Iran have taken place

Tensions intensified after high-level Iranian leadership was targeted in strikes, including reports surrounding the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a development that significantly heightened the risk of a broader regional war.

The fighting has since involved missile and drone attacks, with Iranian strikes targeting US positions and assets, resulting in casualties and fuelling fears of further escalation.

Washington has bolstered its military posture while seeking support from allies, as Tehran has projected defiance alongside conditional openness to negotiations. In recent days, diplomatic efforts have accelerated, with backchannel contacts and proposals — including a reported US framework to end hostilities — being relayed through intermediaries such as Pakistan and Turkiye.

Read More: Iran denies talks with US as Trump claims 'major points of agreement'

While no ceasefire has been reached, attention is increasingly shifting towards potential talks, amid concerns that a prolonged conflict could destabilise energy markets, disrupt key shipping routes, and further inflame an already volatile Middle East.

Meanwhile, Israel and Iran exchanged airstrikes on Wednesday, as Iran's military rejected President Donald Trump's claim that the US was in negotiations to end the war, which has roiled energy and financial markets, saying the US is negotiating with itself.

The rejection ​of negotiations by the unified command of the Iranian Armed Forces, which is dominated by the hardline elite Revolutionary Guards, comes amid reports that the US has sent a 15-point ‌plan for discussion to Tehran.

Iran's leadership has previously said it can not negotiate with the US as it has attacked the country twice during high-level negotiations in ​the past two years.

15-point plan sent to Iran

The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Washington sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war in the Middle East. Israel's Channel 12, quoting three sources, said the US was seeking a ​month-long ceasefire to discuss the 15-point plan.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed that the US had sent a plan to Iran but provided no further details.

The Israeli media outlet said the plan would include the dismantling of Iran's nuclear ‌programme, ceasing support ⁠for proxy groups, such as Lebanon's Hezbollah, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28 after saying they had failed to make enough headway in talks aimed at ending Iran's nuclear programme, although mediator Oman said significant progress had been made. The US struck Iran's nuclear facilities in June 2025.

Pakistan offers to hold US-Iran talks

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday he was willing to host talks between the US and Iran on ending the war, ⁠a day after ​Trump postponed threats to bomb Iranian power plants after what he called "productive" talks.

Pakistan has long-standing ties to neighbouring Iran's Islamic Republic and ​has been building a relationship with Trump.

Despite reports of negotiations, the Pentagon is expected to send thousands from the US Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday, adding to a massive US military ​buildup.

The forces will add to the 50,000 US troops already in the region and accelerate Washington's massive US military buildup there, fuelling fears of a longer conflict.