WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced that the United States was in conversation with Iran. Pakistan offered to host in-person discussions between the two nations.

The United States and Iran have exchanged messages through intermediaries, though no face-to-face meeting has been set to discuss ending the war. Iran denies that negotiations are taking place with the United States.

Trump said in Washington that the United States was "in serious discussions with a new and more reasonable regime to end the war in Iran." He also said that Iran had agreed to at least some points of a 15-point plan proposed by the United States. Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesperson, said that "the United States submitted requests for negotiations and proposals through intermediaries, including Pakistan." Baghaei denied that there have been any direct negotiations between the United States and Iran.

The United States proposed a 15-point plan delivered to Iran via Pakistan. Special envoy Steve Witkoff said that the plan "requires Iran to stop enriching uranium on its soil" and that Iran must "give up its stockpile of 10,000 kilograms of fissile material." Witkoff also said that the plan "includes a solution to the oversight question."

Iran has rejected the United States' 15-point plan and has presented a counterproposal with five points. Iran's counterproposals include a complete halt to aggression and assassinations by the enemy; the establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that war will not be reimposed on Iran; war damages and reparations; and international recognition of Iran's sovereign right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced that Iran had allowed 20 ships to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. Iran had allowed 10 ships to transit the strait the previous week. The White House claimed that the safe passage of these ships was a result of direct and indirect talks between the United States and Iran.

Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, through which over 20 percent of global oil supplies pass. The United States has stated that it will not accept Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz as part of negotiations.

The top diplomats of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt have held talks about possible discussions between the United States and Iran. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar have worked on negotiations between the two countries. According to a regional official and public statements, Pakistan army chief Syed Asim Munir has become a key go-between for the United States and Iran.

Trump said he would know in about a week whether Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was willing to work with Americans. Ghalibaf, Iran's Parliament Speaker, has dismissed the possibility of diplomacy with the United States.