What do plans for peace with Iran contain?

The details of the American plan have not been disclosed, but it has been reportedly on them. It is believed that it is similar in many ways with proposals made before the current war began when Israel and the US began shelling on 28 February.

White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavet has told reporters that “has elements of truth” in media reports on 15 points.

In competitive plans, the new elements are thought to include demands by both sides concerning the Strait of Hormuz -- a vital route for global oil, gas and other goods, which Iran is now holding blocked.

US Requests

The most important request of the US is that American President Donald Trump has repeatedly stressed. He also says Iran has agreed with him.

“They want to make deals”, he told reporters at the Oval Office on 24 March. “They have agreed that they will never own any nuclear weapons”.

The United States and their allies, including Israel and the major European countries, have for many years expressed concern about the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons.

But Iran has always denied that it wants to do so.

Even if that were true, Iran now has new leadership and has been the target of major attacks by the US and Israel that started two wars -- the first in June of last year. The goals of the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not yet been seen since being appointed on March 8th, remain unclear.

Also, it is not quite clear to what extent he or other actors are making decisions in Tehran, or at what extent senior Iranian officials are able to communicate between themselves amid ongoing bombings that have killed many high figures.

Trump said on March 25th that Iranian officials have “fears” to admit they are talking to Americans, “because they think they're going to be killed by their own people”.

The 15-point plan is believed to include a month-long ceasefire until details are processed. It includes many other American demands, such as the disposal of Iranian nuclear facilities, the delivery of enriched uranium reserves to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and reconciliation to not enrich uranium in the future.

Other provisions reportedly impose restrictions on Iran's missile capacities and halt its support for regional forces, such as Hezbollah, the Lebanese group declared a terrorist organisation by Washington.

While many of these were US requests even before the war, some, such as the reopening of the Hormuz Strait and the ban on Iranian attacks on regional energy facilities, would be responding to Iran's actions during the war as of February 28th.

In exchange, Iran would benefit from lifting sanctions and US assistance for a civilian nuclear power programme.

The parameters of the American proposal do not lack ambition -- sanctions relief in exchange for major concessions from Iran” -- Free Europe Nazian Rafati, analyst for Iran at the International Crisis Group, told Radio.

However, if the past is an indicator, its feasibility would depend on the Islamic republic's willingness to submit to pressure on issues that have long been its red lines. On the nuclear front, for example, Tehran has continued to insist on the right to enrich uranium... He has also dismissed the possibility of talks on his missile programme”, he added.

Iran's Stand

Iranian officials have not only said that the talks are not taking place, but have also been ridiculed by American statements on the issue, such as when military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said the Trump administration was “negotion with itself”.

Nobody like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not even”, he stressed on March 25th.

Meanwhile, some of Tehran's demands conflict with American attitudes.

Among them are recognition of Iran's control or authority over Hormuz Strait, along with the right to impose transit fees, and the right to an unlimited missile programme.

Iran's demands also clearly violate US red lines, because they want Washington to close its military bases in the Persian Gulf, pay war damages and ensure it no longer attacks Iran.

“Now, at least, the promise of economic relief and the pain from ongoing attacks appear to not encourage Iran to make any concessions on the scale Washington asking for”, Rafat said.

The overall regime still does not see its position in the war as desperate enough to accept US terms”.

Fred Fleitz, deputy chairman of the Center for American Security at America First Policy Institute, has a similar assessment.

I think the biggest challenge is to convince the Iranian regime to reconcile for something. We are still at the point where we should make them agree to sit down for talks. I think we've made some progress with some initial demands, but we need to have an Iranian representative sitting down with the US or a mediator to start talks”, he told Radio Free Europe.