NEW DELHI, May 1: After Iran delivered a new proposal for peace talks with the United States via mediator Pakistan, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he was “not satisfied” with what Tehran was offering even as negotiations between the two sides remains stalled amid a weeks-long ceasefire.
“At this moment I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” Mr Trump told reporters.
Meanwhile, a senior UAE official said on Friday that Tehran could not be trusted over any unilateral arrangements it makes for the Strait of Hormuz, in a sign of deep mistrust on all sides as efforts to end the Iran war remained at an impasse.
Tehran’s air defences were activated to counter small aircraft and drones late Thursday as the White House signalled that it will not be reined in by a congressional deadline on the Iran war. While the ceasefire has since been extended, Iran maintains its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. Navy is maintaining a blockade to prevent Iran’s oil tankers from getting out to sea.
Militant Hezbollah group said it fired rockets and drones, including one that crashed in northern Israel and wounded two soldiers. By Friday afternoon, Hezbollah had issued six statements saying it launched drones and rockets at Israeli military positions. The Israeli military confirmed that Hezbollah launched an explosive drone that fell in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon.
(Manas Dasgupta)