Diplomatic moves continue between Iran and the United States, amid the proposal of a new draft to end the war and attempts to narrow the differences regarding the terms of settlement, at a time when the chances of reaching an agreement still face significant obstacles, with ongoing mutual military threats.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that Tehran and Washington are still far from an agreement to end the war, affirming his country's rejection of what he described as "excessive American demands," while noting that mediators are working closely to bridge the viewpoints between the two parties. He added that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is linked to meeting Iran's conditions, and that negotiations regarding the nuclear program can only begin afterward.

These statements coincided with a field escalation, as the United States launched strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island on Monday, targeting sites for surface-to-air missiles, according to an American official, while the Revolutionary Guard announced the downing of an American MQ-9 drone east of the Strait of Hormuz.

A New Draft Mediated by Qatar

As part of the mediation efforts, an Iranian delegation left Doha on Sunday after talks with Qatari officials, while a new draft proposal was distributed to the concerned parties for their feedback, with discussions about holding a meeting later to follow up on the negotiations.

Bloomberg reported that Qatari negotiators traveled to Tehran on Monday, and a source told Reuters that the mediators met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss a version of the draft agreement.

The discussions focus on a seven-step Iranian proposal, which includes ending the American maritime blockade on Iranian ports, easing sanctions, and releasing frozen assets in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to navigation. Tehran claims that implementing the proposal is possible within two days of reaching an agreement, with discussions on the nuclear file to be postponed to a later stage.

Five Iranian Demands

In the context of defining the terms of settlement, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, announced that his country's plan for sustainable security includes lifting sanctions, releasing frozen funds, obtaining compensation for the war, recognizing Iran's sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and guarantees against the recurrence of attacks, along with regional security arrangements and ending the war on all fronts, especially in Lebanon and Gaza.

For his part, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated that Tehran has presented Washington with a "strong and rational response," adding that the ball is now in the United States' court, warning that any new attack would be met with a different battlefield, as he put it.

American Optimism and Military Calculations

In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that reaching an agreement with Iran is possible, while his deputy, JD Vance, expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching a settlement, but emphasized the need for Tehran to provide a clear and verifiable commitment not to rebuild its nuclear program.

The main points of contention lie in the order of implementing commitments; Tehran wants the blockade lifted and sanctions eased before moving to the nuclear file, while Washington insists on guarantees related to the nuclear program within any agreement.

These moves come amid the midterm elections, with anticipation of the possibility of resuming strikes after this deadline. Trump had ruled out launching new attacks before the elections but did not exclude them afterward, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the president had not made a final decision regarding any military action.

In contrast, Araghchi confirmed his country's readiness for both diplomatic and military paths, and Iranian leader Mojtaba Khamenei directed the armed forces to prepare for any potential attack, reflecting the ongoing bet on the negotiation track alongside raising military readiness.