Trump Dissatisfied with Iran's Hormuz Proposal
Trump was presented with Tehran's plan during a White House Situation Room meeting Monday, The New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the discussions. The proposal also calls for Washington to lift its naval blockade on the strategically vital waterway.
Critically, the offer makes no mention of Iran's nuclear program, multiple US and Iranian officials told the Times. Tehran has consistently rebuffed American demands to cease all uranium enrichment, arguing it retains that right under international law — and has so far declined to surrender stockpiles of already-enriched uranium.
The precise nature of Trump's objections remains unclear, though he has long held firm on both nuclear demands. One anonymous US official indicated that accepting the proposal would amount to a public defeat for the president.
"The United States will not negotiate through the press — we have been clear about our red lines and the president will only make a deal that's good for the American people and the world," White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told the Times.
Axios first disclosed the existence of the proposal Sunday, shortly after reporting that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had delivered it to Pakistani intermediaries. Under its terms, a ceasefire would be extended indefinitely or made permanent, with nuclear negotiations commencing only once the strait is reopened and restrictions are fully lifted, media reported.
The latest rejection follows Trump's dismissal of a separate Iranian proposal last week, when he abruptly called off scheduled negotiations in Islamabad. US officials told The New York Times that Iranian negotiators arrived without authorization to offer any concessions on the nuclear file — a development that dealt a severe blow to the peace process.
Inside the Trump administration, debate has now shifted to a harder-edged calculus: how long Iran can absorb the economic punishment inflicted by the ongoing US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz before it yields. With oil production rapidly overwhelming storage capacity and the risks of shutting down wells mounting, some administration figures believe Tehran will ultimately seek a deal to avoid catastrophic infrastructure damage, the Times reported.
Others remain skeptical, arguing that rather than softening Iran's position, Trump's decision to align with Israel in striking the country has only stiffened the resolve of its leadership.
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