International reports revealed that the United States proposed a negotiation package including easing sanctions imposed on Iran, in exchange for stopping uranium enrichment operations and re-guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The leaks indicated that the U.S. proposal aims to open a new path in the nuclear tension file, through a "step-for-step" formula based on gradually reducing Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for gradual economic relief from Washington. Guaranteeing unobstructed commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the world's most important maritime passages for oil exports, is considered one of the most prominent elements of the proposal, amid recurring international concerns about the impact of regional tensions on energy security and supply chains. No immediate official comment was issued from either side regarding the report, while questions are raised about the realism of this approach given the complexities of the nuclear file and the divergence of positions between the two sides regarding enrichment levels and required guarantees.