Iran says it receives US response to latest proposal as Washington pulls out of Iraq
USO•Iran said it received a US response to its proposal to restore an interim ceasefire, days after President Donald Trump said he had rejected it. The United States also withdrew its last forces from Iraq, ending a 23-year military presence.
1. Ceasefire proposal
Iran said Wednesday that it had received a US response to its latest proposal to revive the collapsed ceasefire in the Gulf. Iran’s plan calls for the United States to lift its blockade of Iranian ports and for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days; Trump said Sunday he had rejected the proposal. An official briefed on talks held through Qatari mediators said the sides largely agree on necessary steps but disagree on their order.
2. US troops leave Iraq
US and Iraqi officials announced Wednesday that the last American troops had withdrawn from bases in Iraq, fulfilling a plan agreed in 2024. Iran and its allies celebrated the departure, while a Baghdad-based analyst said Iran-backed groups may feel increasingly empowered and seek a larger role in Iraqi state institutions.
3. Shipping remains disrupted
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has increased in recent weeks, but flows of crude oil, refined products and natural gas remain substantially disrupted. Britain’s maritime security body said two ships were hit by projectiles on Tuesday.
