New Delhi: President Donald Trump is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to resolve the ongoing two-month conflict, according to a U.S. official, casting doubt on efforts to end a war that has disrupted energy supplies, driven inflation, and resulted in heavy casualties.
The proposal from Iran reportedly suggests postponing discussions on its nuclear program until after the conflict ends and disputes over Gulf shipping are settled. However, the U.S. has insisted that nuclear issues must be addressed from the beginning, which is a key reason for Trump’s disapproval, the official said, speaking anonymously after a Monday meeting with the president’s advisers.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales stated that the U.S. “will not negotiate through the press” and has “been clear about our red lines” as the administration seeks to end the conflict with Iran, which began in February alongside Israel.
A previous agreement in 2015 between Iran and several global powers, including the U.S., had significantly limited Iran’s nuclear activities, which Tehran has consistently said are for peaceful purposes. However, that deal collapsed after Trump unilaterally withdrew from it during his first term.
Prospects for reviving peace talks have dimmed after President Trump canceled a planned visit last weekend by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad. During the same period, Abbas Araqchi made multiple trips in and out of the city for diplomatic engagements.
Abbas Araqchi also traveled to Oman and later visited Russia on Monday, where he met President Vladimir Putin and received backing from a long-time ally.
Oil Prices Rise Again
With both sides still far from agreement, oil prices continued to rise, extending gains in early Asian trading on Tuesday as concerns over supply disruptions persisted.
“For oil traders, it’s not the rhetoric that matters any more, but the actual physical flow of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, and right now, that flow remains constrained,” Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com, said in a note.
Recent ship-tracking data indicated that at least six tankers carrying Iranian oil have been turned back to Iran by the U.S. blockade, highlighting the conflict’s growing impact on maritime traffic.
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the seizures of its oil-linked tankers, describing them as “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas”, in a social media post.
Before the conflict, between 125 and 140 ships passed through the Strait daily. That number has now dropped sharply, with only a seven vessels transiting in the past day—and none transporting oil to global markets—according to to Kpler ship-tracking data and satellite analysis from SynMax.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is facing mounting domestic pressure as his approval ratings decline, increasing calls to bring an end to the war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking during a visit to Russia, said the U.S. had sought negotiations after failing to meet its objectives.
According to senior Iranian officials, speaking on conditions of anonymity, told Reuters Tehran’s proposal carried by Araghchi to Islamabad over the weekend outlines a phased approach to talks, with nuclear issue to be set aside at the start.
The initial step would involve ending the conflict with the U.S. and Israel, along with guarantees against renewed hostilities.
Subsequent negotiations would address the U.S. naval blockade affecting Iran’s maritime trade and the future of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran wants to reopen under its control.
Only after these steps would discussions move to broader issues, including the long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, with Tehran continuing to seek recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
(DD News)