The United States has rejected Iran's response to a peace proposal, with President Donald Trump describing it as "totally unacceptable," raising the prospect of renewed hostilities. Iran, in turn, has warned that it will not hesitate to retaliate against any new US strikes and will not permit additional foreign warships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Ceasefire Under Strain
A ceasefire that came into effect in April, intended to facilitate peace talks, has been largely observed despite intermittent exchanges of fire and reports of strikes in the strategic waterway. Iran has continued to effectively block the Strait of Hormuz in response to being attacked by the US and Israel in February. The US military has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports since 13 April, claiming it has turned back 61 commercial vessels and disabled four.
Iran's Demands
According to Iranian state media, Tehran's proposal included demands that the US lift its sanctions, end its naval blockade, and call for an immediate end to the war, with guarantees against any renewed attack on the country.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: "I have just read the response from Iran's so-called 'representatives'. I don't like it – totally unacceptable." The US had presented a peace proposal a week ago, reported to consist of a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz while setting a framework for further talks on Iran's nuclear programme.
Trump told US outlet Axios he discussed the Iranian response in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "It was a very nice call. We have a good relationship," he said, before stressing that the Iran negotiations are "my situation, not everybody else's." Netanyahu warned the war would continue as long as Iran had a stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which could be used to make nuclear warheads.
