Iran Delays Response to US Peace Plan Amid Nuclear Diplomacy Stall

Iran has kept the United States waiting for a formal response to Washington's latest peace proposal, stalling diplomatic momentum at a critical juncture in negotiations over Tehran's nuclear programme. The delay introduces fresh uncertainty into talks that both sides had publicly characterised as substantive in recent weeks.

The withholding of a response is a calculated move by Tehran, which has historically used diplomatic timing as leverage in negotiations. Iranian officials have not publicly explained the delay, but analysts suggest it may reflect internal divisions within the Iranian leadership over the terms being proposed by Washington.

The stall comes at a precarious moment, as the United States has signalled that military options remain on the table if diplomacy fails. Reports of US military contingency planning directed at Iran's nuclear infrastructure have circulated alongside the diplomatic track, creating a dual-pressure environment that Tehran must navigate carefully.

The international community, including European signatories to the original JCPOA framework, will be watching Tehran's response with urgency. Prolonged silence risks hardening positions on both sides and narrowing the window for a negotiated settlement before the situation escalates further.