TEHRAN, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Understandings have been reached regarding easing the U.S. naval blockade in exchange for Iran's gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Al Arabiya reported Thursday, citing sources.
It also quoted a Pakistani source as saying that Iran may send its response to a nine-point U.S. proposal outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistan on Thursday.
The Pakistani source said contacts with the Iranian side continue and there is no obstacle to maintaining contact or receiving responses.
The source added that U.S. President Donald Trump has urged a "swift Iranian response" to the U.S. proposal, and that discussions are ongoing and understandings could be reached.
On Wednesday, Axios reported that the United States and Iran are closing in on a one-page memo to end their war, noting that a potential deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the United States agreeing to lift sanctions, with both sides lifting restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's semi-official Fars news agency called the report "fabricated," adding that Tehran had not exchanged any new written messages with Washington.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Wednesday that Iran was still reviewing the U.S. proposal and would convey its response to Pakistan after completing its assessment.
The United States and Israel conducted joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior Iranian officials and civilians. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. interests in the region and tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire between the warring parties took effect on April 8, which was followed by talks between Iranian and U.S. delegations in Pakistan's Islamabad on April 11 and 12 that ended without an agreement. Later, the United States imposed its own blockade on the strait.
Last week, Iran sent a 14-point counterproposal to Washington through Pakistan and later confirmed it had received a reply from Washington.
Separately, a statement published Thursday by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's office said Pezeshkian has recently met with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
The meeting, held in a "cordial" atmosphere based on "trust, calm, empathy and direct dialogue," lasted nearly two and a half hours, it said, without detailing the date of the meeting.
The statement came amid sustained media reports questioning the health condition of Mojtaba, who was appointed as Iran's new supreme leader following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
In early May, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Mojtaba remains in "complete good health" and continues to carry out his duties normally. ■
