Tracy Mumford

The officials say it deals with Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs and shipping routes.

It's also unclear whether Israel, which has been bombing Iran in coordination with the U.S., is on board with it.

But it shows that the White House is eager to negotiate, to find an off-ramp to the conflict that's been driving up oil prices and rattling the economy.

According to officials, the plan was delivered via Pakistan, whose army chief has emerged as a key go-between for the U.S.

and Iran.

Iran may have trouble delivering a quick response to the American outreach, though.

Senior officials there have been struggling to communicate with each other, and they're worried that if they meet up to talk in person, they could be bombed.

At the same time, even as President Trump is talking up the negotiations, defense officials tell The Times the U.S.

is sending around 2,000 paratroopers to the Middle East.

It's unclear where exactly they'll be deployed, but the officials said it would be within striking distance of Iran.

They could, for instance, be sent to seize Karg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, which U.S.

warplanes have already targeted.

Separately, about 2,300 Marines are scheduled to arrive in the region this week.

They could also be tasked with taking Karg Island or helping to clear the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed, choking off a key oil and gas route.

In the face of all this, the U.S.

proposal on the table, the new wave of troops, Iran has been defiant.

Multiple Iranian officials have publicly denied their country is negotiating with the U.S., and their forces have continued to fire off missiles, proving they still have an arsenal.

Meanwhile, in Europe.

Investigators are trying to figure out if a string of attacks on Jewish sites over the past few weeks have been carried out by Iran or its proxies.

Four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance Service were set on fire in Golders Green.