U.S. officials transmitted a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran through Pakistan on March 24, the most detailed American plan to end the war since fighting began on February 28.
Two Pakistani officials familiar with the plan described its broad outlines to the Associated Press, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program, limits on ballistic missiles, and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
An Egyptian official involved in mediation said the proposal also included restrictions on Iran’s support for armed groups across the region, a demand Tehran has consistently rejected in past negotiations.
A Race Against the Clock
The plan arrived as Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum on the Strait of Hormuz neared its expiration. Trump had threatened to strike Iran’s power plants if the strait was not reopened. However, reports suggested the deadline was likely to be extended to allow time for diplomacy.
Mediators in Pakistan and Egypt were pushing for face-to-face talks between American and Iranian representatives. The proposed venue was Pakistan, which had facilitated the transmission of the ceasefire proposal.
Nuclear and Missile Provisions
The nuclear component of the plan was expected to require Iran to halt enrichment activities and allow enhanced International Atomic Energy Agency inspections, though specific details were not publicly released.
The missile provisions would aim to limit Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran considers essential to its national defense. Iran has more than 3,000 ballistic missiles, the largest stockpile in the Middle East, and has consistently refused to negotiate over its missile program in previous diplomatic rounds.
Hormuz and Sanctions
The Strait of Hormuz remained the most urgent issue. Shipping traffic through the waterway had dropped by roughly 90 percent since the war began, contributing to oil prices above $100 per barrel and disruptions to global energy markets.
Any sanctions relief would likely be phased and conditional on Iranian compliance with other elements of the plan. U.S. sanctions on Iran had been tightened repeatedly over the past decade, particularly after the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.
Fighting Continues
The ceasefire proposal did not produce an immediate halt to military operations. Coalition airstrikes continued in multiple Iranian provinces. Iran launched fresh missile attacks against Israeli targets and Gulf military installations.
The war’s cost to the United States had reached an estimated $2 billion per day. More than 300 U.S. service members had been wounded by late March, though the official Pentagon count had not been updated since the March 13 figure of 140.
Whether Iran would accept, reject, or counter the proposal would define the coming days of the conflict.