Iran has signaled that it will deliver its response to a U.S. peace proposal through Pakistan, opening a narrow diplomatic lane even as sharp distrust still defines the war talks.

An Iranian official said Tehran would convey its reply via Pakistan, a country that reports indicate has emerged as a key intermediary. That choice matters. It suggests Iran wants distance from direct U.S. engagement while still keeping negotiations alive. It also gives Pakistan a more visible role in a high-stakes exchange that could shape the next phase of the conflict.

At the same time, Tehran has hardly softened its public stance. Another Iranian official earlier dismissed a reported proposal to end the war as a “list of American wishes,” a phrase that captured the gap between the two sides. The remark signals that even if a reply is coming, Iran may reject core U.S. demands or seek major changes before any deal can move forward.

Iran appears willing to answer Washington, but its message so far remains clear: Tehran does not intend to simply endorse terms drafted in the United States.

Key Facts

  • An Iranian official said Tehran would send its response through Pakistan.
  • Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the reported peace contacts.
  • Another Iranian official dismissed the reported U.S. proposal as a “list of American wishes.”
  • The exchange points to continued diplomacy, but deep disagreement over terms.

The split between process and substance now defines this moment. On process, both sides appear to keep a channel open, however indirect. On substance, reports suggest they remain far apart. Iran's decision to use Pakistan may help prevent a total breakdown, but it does not resolve the larger dispute over what a peace proposal should require and who gets to set the terms.

What happens next will hinge on the content of Tehran’s reply and on whether mediators can turn an exchange of positions into actual negotiation. If Pakistan can keep messages moving, diplomacy may still slow a wider escalation. If the response hardens the standoff, the region could face a longer and more dangerous stretch of conflict.