Iran Proposes Four-Stage Deal With U.S. as Overnight Clashes Intensify

Iran issued a four-stage proposal for a deal with the United States on Wednesday through state media outlet Fars, according to reports, as the most intense overnight clashes since April killed one person and injured 63 at Kuwait International Airport. The proposal comes after a night of exchanges that included a U.S. strike on an Iranian Revolutionary Guard position on Qeshm Island and Iranian missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, officials said.

A passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport was directly struck by Iranian weapons, causing one death and 63 injuries, according to Kuwait’s health ministry. The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned what it called “cowardly attacks on civilian objects” and described the strikes as a “dangerous and unprecedented escalation,” according to a statement carried by state media [1].

Details of Iran’s Four-Stage Proposal

According to Fars News Agency, the proposal includes four phases: ending the war and halting military actions; tangible measures on the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the blockade, removing oil sanctions, and releasing frozen assets; discussions on broader sanctions and the nuclear file; and establishing a supervisory committee. Saeed Ajorlou, a member of the negotiating delegation’s media team, said Phase One must encompass all parties and all fronts, including the so-called Resistance Axis. Phase Two addresses the strait, lifting the blockade, removing oil sanctions, and releasing part of Iran’s frozen assets, he said.

Phase Three will focus on sanctions and the nuclear program after concrete measures have been implemented, according to Ajorlou. Phase Four involves establishing a supervisory committee with friendly and aligned countries to oversee implementation. State media outlets gave conflicting reports: Fars said indirect talks with Washington are ongoing, while IRGC-linked Tasnim claimed all back-channel communication has been frozen over Israeli operations in Lebanon. The proposal mirrors earlier U.S. overtures, including a 15-point plan transmitted through Pakistani intermediaries in March that demanded Iran dismantle its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz [2].

Overnight Clashes and Military Exchanges

The U.S. military disabled a tanker attempting to bypass the American blockade in the Strait of Hormuz using a Hellfire missile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed it launched missiles and drones targeting the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and two U.S. bases in Kuwait. CENTCOM denied that the Fifth Fleet headquarters was struck and stated that all Iranian attacks on U.S. forces failed. U.S. forces conducted self-defense strikes on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island, according to CENTCOM [3].

Kuwait International Airport was hit by Iranian missiles and drones, causing one death and 63 injuries, the Kuwaiti health ministry said. Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan described it as “criminal Iranian aggression.” The attack damaged diplomatic missions and halted commercial flights. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi characterized the overnight strikes as “self-defense” and warned that any hostile act would meet a decisive response [4]. The exchanges marked the most intense fighting since April, according to analysts.

Responses and Contradictory Narratives

President Donald Trump expressed optimism that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will “resolve itself fairly quickly” and said Iran is “close to signing the paper in theory,” according to an interview with the New York Post. Trump claimed conversations with Iran are ongoing. However, IRGC-linked Tasnim reported that Tehran has frozen all back-channel communication with Washington, directly contradicting Trump’s account. Iran’s Foreign Ministry previously accused the United States of opting for a “reckless military adventure” whenever diplomacy is on the table [5].

The Gulf Cooperation Council condemned Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait as a “dangerous and unprecedented escalation.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran has mined large segments of the Hormuz Strait and that nuclear negotiations are “highly complicated,” adding that “the war in Iran is over.” The competing claims reflect a wide gap between the two sides, with the U.S. insisting on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program while Tehran demands sanctions relief and an end to military operations. Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has previously threatened prolonged closure of the strait as a strategic weapon [6].

Conclusion

Despite the four-stage proposal, overnight clashes continued, indicating both sides remain far from a formal agreement. The proposal reported by state media has not been officially confirmed by U.S. officials, and Iran’s Tasnim news agency insisted no memorandum of understanding has been finalized. Historical patterns show that Iran’s latent deterrent has previously discouraged U.S. attacks, but the current escalation has drawn in Gulf states and disrupted global oil markets [7]. The situation remains volatile, with competing claims from U.S. and Iranian officials about the status of talks and ongoing hostilities.

References

1. ZeroHedge. “Very Wide Gap Between US & Iranian Positions As Tehran Blasts White House ‘Unreasonable Demands'”. May 11, 2026.
2. NaturalNews.com. “US Transmits 15 Point Proposal to Iran Seeking War Conclusion; Tehran Shows No Interest”. NaturalNews.com. March 26, 2026.
3. ZeroHedge. “Futures Drop, Yields And Oil Rise On Latest Middle East Hostilities”. June 3, 2026.
4. BBC. “Iran warns against complying with US sanctions as Gulf attacks reported”. May 10, 2026.
5. BBC. “Iran accuses US of ‘reckless military adventure'”. May 8, 2026.
6. Kevin Hughes. “Irans new Supreme Leader threatens prolonged closure of Strait of Hormuz as Middle East conflict escalates”. NaturalNews.com. March 15, 2026.
7. Gareth Porter. “Manufactured Crisis: The Untold Story of the Iran Nuclear Scare”.

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