Iran has sent a nuclear proposal to the United States through Qatar, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday, which Tehran wants taken up only after Washington meets its seven conditions—among them the lifting of U.S. sanctions, release of frozen assets and war reparations; the official said the U.S. “was reviewing the proposal.” The Qatari draft reportedly has two phases of “reciprocal steps": On day one, the U.S. lifts its naval blockade and releases part of Iran’s frozen assets while Tehran formally invites the IAEA back to the bombed sites on the understanding reached earlier in Cairo. On day two, the Strait of Hormuz reopens and nuclear talks begin, centered on the 60% stockpile. The draft bridges the sequencing dispute that has stalled everything since the Vance letter: Washington wants nuclear up for discussion first first, Tehran wants to start with lifting the blockade and economic pressure. Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, speaking in Russia, repeated that Iran would “neither open the Strait of Hormuz nor hold talks” until the seven conditions are carried out.

Today Trump spoke by phone with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Qatari readout said the two discussed Qatar’s mediation toward “a comprehensive agreement that could resolve the crisis and ensure regional security and stability,” and that the Emir stressed that “preventing further regional escalation was crucial,” along with “safeguarding freedom of maritime navigation, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz” and the security of energy supplies. Qatar has said it is seeking an understanding “within two days.” On the other side of the call, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office Thursday that the election losses do not change his calculation: “If we have to do the rest of the Iran thing, we’re very much locked in,” and he has said an Iran decision is coming soon.