U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the latest proposal from Iran aimed at resolving the ongoing two-month conflict, a U.S. official revealed, casting doubt on the prospects of a resolution to the crisis that has disrupted energy flow, sparked inflation, and resulted in numerous casualties.
Iran’s recent proposal suggests deferring discussions on its nuclear program until the conflict is resolved and disputes regarding Gulf shipping are settled. However, the U.S. stance is that nuclear matters should be addressed from the outset, leading to Trump’s discontent with Iran’s proposal, as per a U.S. official briefed on the president’s Monday meeting with advisors.
White House spokesperson Olivia Wales emphasized that the U.S. would not engage in negotiations through the media and has clearly outlined its red lines as the Trump administration strives to conclude the conflict initiated in February alongside Israel.
The 2015 agreement between Iran and several other nations, including the U.S., significantly limited Iran’s nuclear activities, which Iran has maintained are for peaceful purposes. Nevertheless, the deal collapsed when Trump unilaterally withdrew from it during his first term.
Efforts to revive peace talks have dimmed following the cancellation of a visit by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad, where Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged in shuttle diplomacy over the weekend. Araghchi also visited Oman and Russia, receiving support from President Vladimir Putin.
Amid the stark disagreements between the warring factions, oil prices continued their upward trajectory, extending gains in early Asian trading on Tuesday. Notably, several tankers loaded with Iranian oil were turned back to Iran in recent days due to the U.S. blockade, underscoring the impact of the conflict on maritime traffic.
Trump held discussions with his national security team on Monday, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinting at upcoming announcements from the president on the topic.
Araghchi stated in Russia that Trump had requested negotiations due to the U.S. failing to achieve its objectives. Iranian sources indicated that the proposal carried by Araghchi envisioned staged talks, prioritizing the cessation of hostilities and guarantees against future conflicts initiated by Washington before addressing the nuclear issue.
With face-to-face meetings not imminent, streets in Islamabad, previously closed in anticipation of talks, have reopened. Pakistani officials mentioned that remote negotiations are ongoing, awaiting sufficient progress to convene an in-person meeting for signing a memorandum.
Although a ceasefire has paused U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, no agreement has been reached to end the war that has led to casualties, escalated oil prices, fueled inflation, and clouded global growth prospects. Iran has impeded most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, with the U.S. recently commencing blockades against Iranian vessels.
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned U.S. seizures of Iran-related tankers as acts of piracy, highlighting the disruption in maritime traffic caused by the conflict. Before the war, around 125 to 140 ships transited the strait daily, but recent data shows a significant decline in traffic, with only a few vessels passing through, none carrying oil for the global market.
Facing declining approval ratings, Trump is under pressure domestically to end the unpopular conflict, while Iran leverages its control over the strait to exert influence, given its role in global oil shipments.
In Lebanon, violence escalated over the weekend, with Israeli airstrikes leading to casualties, marking the deadliest day since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in mid-April. Iran has linked talks on the broader conflict to a sustained ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel’s actions against Hezbollah have escalated tensions.
Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, agreed upon in Washington and extended recently, underscoring the complex dynamics at play in the region.