Iran mentioned on Wednesday (Could 20, 2026) it was inspecting the newest U.S. proposal obtained from mediator Pakistan in talks to finish the West Asia warfare, regardless of the 2 sides buying and selling threats over resuming assaults.
It got here after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed reporters that Washington was within the “closing phases” of negotiations with Iran.
“We’ll both have a deal or we’re going to do some issues which can be slightly bit nasty. However hopefully that gained’t occur,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
“I’m in no hurry. I simply, ideally, I’d prefer to see few folks killed, versus lots,” he added.
Iran’s Overseas Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei mentioned the Islamic Republic had “obtained the factors of view of the American aspect and we’re at present inspecting them”.
He reiterated Iran’s calls for, together with the discharge of Iranian property frozen overseas and an finish to the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
Tehran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had mentioned earlier that the US wished to restart the West Asia warfare, after Mr. Trump mentioned he would assault once more except Tehran agreed a peace deal.
Mr. Ghalibaf, who warned of a “forceful response”, was talking after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards mentioned any renewed warfare would unfold far past the West Asia.
“The enemy’s actions, each overt and clandestine, present that regardless of financial and political stress, it has not deserted its navy goals and is in search of to begin a brand new warfare,” Mr. Ghalibaf mentioned.
‘Give diplomacy an opportunity’
A ceasefire on April 8 introduced a halt to the U.S.-Israeli battle with Iran, which has roiled the worldwide financial system, however with Washington and Tehran seemingly reluctant to renew the combating, a disagreement has taken its place.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with renewed navy motion, whereas Iranian officers have hit again with their very own warnings.
The Revolutionary Guards mentioned on Wednesday (Could 20, 2026): “If the aggression in opposition to Iran is repeated, the promised regional warfare will this time unfold far past the area, and our devastating blows will crush you.”
However, regardless of sporadic bursts of violence, the 2 nations have continued to participate in diplomatic exchanges, mediated by Pakistan, aimed toward bringing a proper finish to the warfare.
Citing diplomatic sources, Iran’s official IRNA information company introduced a go to to Tehran by Pakistan’s Inside Minister, his second in lower than per week.
World oil costs fell greater than 5 % on Wednesday (Could 20, 2026) on hopes of a deal.
Saudi Overseas Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan praised Mr. Trump on Wednesday (Could 20, 2026) for his choice to “give diplomacy an opportunity” and urged Iran to grab “the chance to keep away from the harmful implications of escalation”.
Israel’s military chief Lieutenant Colonel Eyal Zamir, in the meantime, mentioned the navy was at its highest alert stage “and ready for any growth”.
Underneath stress
Mr. Trump is underneath stress, with rising power prices starting to chew at house.
Whereas the ceasefire introduced a halt to the combating, it has not reopened the very important Strait of Hormuz, by which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied pure gasoline normally go.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy on Wednesday (Could 20, 2026) mentioned they allowed 26 vessels, together with oil tankers, to transit the Strait of Hormuz over the earlier 24 hours, after “coordination and safety supplied by the IRGC navy”.
The US has imposed its personal blockade on Iranian ports, and U.S. Central Command mentioned Marines had boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday (Could 20, 2026) within the Gulf of Oman that was suspected of making an attempt to violate the blockade.
“American forces launched the vessel after looking out and directing the ship’s crew to change course,” CENTCOM mentioned on X.
It mentioned U.S. forces have now redirected 91 industrial ships to make sure compliance with the blockade.
The way forward for the Hormuz strait is a key sticking level in negotiations, however with no deal fears are rising for the worldwide financial system as pre-war stockpiles of oil are used up.
The strait can be a conduit for round a 3rd of world fertiliser, the lack of which is pushing up meals costs and will trigger shortages.
On Wednesday (Could 20, 2026), the UN’s Meals and Agriculture Group warned of “a extreme international meals value disaster” and a “systemic agrifood shock” from the closure of the strait.
Printed – Could 21, 2026 01:21 am IST