The United States and Iran are gearing up for talks in Islamabad aimed at ending weeks of conflict in the West Asia region. At the centre of these negotiations are two sharply different proposals. Iran has proposed a 10-point peace plan. It calls for the complete lifting of sanctions, the withdrawal of US forces from the region, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. It also demands recognition of Iran's right to uranium enrichment, continued control over the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for war damages. A binding, UN-backed guarantee against future attacks is also a key demand.