A day after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal, saying he was not “satisfied”, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday (local time) that the proposal would reopen shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and lift the US blockade of Iran, while delaying discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program.
What did the latest Iranian proposal mention?
The official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the Islamic Republic believed its latest proposal to postpone nuclear talks to a later stage was a significant move aimed at facilitating a deal.
He also noted that the latest proposal would end the US-Iran war with a guarantee that Israel and the US would not attack again and that Tehran would open the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed since the conflict began in late February, while Washington lifts its blockade.
Future talks would then be about limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, with Iran demanding that Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes even as it agrees to suspend it.
“Within this framework, negotiations on the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more favorable atmosphere,” the official said.
The US rejects Iran’s latest proposal
Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that he was “unhappy” and “not happy” with the proposal. He added: “They want to make a deal, but I’m not happy with it,” adding: “We just talked to Iran. We’ll see what happens. But I’d say I’m not happy.” When asked what the shortcomings of the proposal were, the US president replied: “They are asking for things that I cannot agree with.”
US-Iran peace talks in limbo
The development comes weeks after the US and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran; however, the war has not yet ended. After the first round of talks failed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on 11-12 April, both sides blamed each other for failing to reach an agreement. While Washington said Tehran had decided not to accept its terms, the Islamic Republic accused Washington of making excessive demands. The US then imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, a move that further hampered hopes of resuming talks and reaching an agreement. Since Trump imposed the naval blockade on April 13, Tehran’s leaders have denied coming to the negotiating table, citing the blockade as the primary reason. While Tehran wants talks to continue on lifting the blockade, the US wants a final deal before it is lifted, perpetuating the stalemate.
Military escalation perhaps?
Days after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning that military action could resume as Tel Aviv received more than 6,500 tons of military equipment, a senior Iranian military officer made similar claims. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a key central figure in the command, told Fars News in an interview that “a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely.” He added that “the actions and statements of US officials are largely media-oriented, aimed firstly at preventing oil prices from falling and secondly at escaping from a difficult situation of their own making.”
The development comes as US Central Command (CENTCOM), which carries out the naval blockade, informed Trump on Thursday of a potential military strike in Iran as talks between the two sides broke down and Tehran continues to maintain control of the Strait of Hormuz.
