Iran says it receives US response to latest proposal as Washington pulls out of Iraq

Iran announced on Wednesday that it has received a response from the United States regarding its recent proposal to revive the faltering ceasefire in the Gulf region. This comes in the wake of President Donald Trump's declaration that he had rejected the proposal. Iran's allies expressed joy over the news, as Washington had just removed the last of its forces from neighboring Iraq, where the conflict had claimed the lives of 4,500 American troops and displaced over 200,000 civilians.

Tehran perceives this withdrawal as a triumph for its "axis of resistance" and a step towards its goal of expelling American forces from the region.

In a proposal presented last week, Iran offered to lift its blockade on Iranian ports and reopen the severely damaged Strait of Hormuz within seven days. This move aimed to restore an interim agreement that was abandoned shortly after its signing in June 2022 by then-U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian. An Iranian government spokesperson stated that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had communicated the US response to the Iranian government.

Recent talks between Qatari mediators and Iranian and U.S. envoys in New York, held on the sidelines of a UN session, saw both sides agreeing on necessary steps but still disagreeing on the sequence of actions. Iran seeks to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, which has been disrupted since the start of the conflict.

Although crude oil, refined products, and natural gas flows have been significantly affected, they have not entirely ceased. The recent attacks on vessels highlight the ongoing tensions in the region.