President Donald Trump is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to end the two-month conflict, a US official revealed on Monday, casting doubt on a swift resolution to a war that has disrupted global energy markets, driven up inflation, and claimed thousands of lives.
The Iranian plan, presented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi during weekend talks in Islamabad, would postpone negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program until after the war ends and disputes over shipping in the Persian Gulf are settled. However, the White House insists that nuclear issues must be addressed from the outset.
“Trump was unhappy with Iran’s proposal for that reason,” said a US official briefed on the president’s Monday meeting with his advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity. White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales declined to comment on the specifics, stating, “We will not negotiate through the press,” while reiterating that the administration has “been clear about our red lines.”
Diplomatic Hopes Fade
The diplomatic stalemate deepened after Trump abruptly canceled a planned visit by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad, where Araqchi had shuttled in and out twice over the weekend. Araqchi also traveled to Oman and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, receiving public support from a key ally.
Senior Iranian officials, speaking anonymously, described a multi-stage proposal. The first step would require an end to the US-Israeli war and guarantees against its resumption. Next, negotiators would address the US Navy’s blockade of Iran’s maritime trade and the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran seeks to reopen under its control. Only then would talks tackle the nuclear program, with Iran still seeking US acknowledgment of its right to enrich uranium.
Oil Prices Surge as Hormuz Remains Blocked
With no diplomatic breakthrough in sight, oil prices resumed their upward climb in early Asian trading on Tuesday. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global crude shipments, remains largely impassable. Ship-tracking data from Kpler and satellite analysis from SynMax show that only seven vessels crossed the strait in the past day, compared to the pre-war average of 125 to 140 ships daily. None were carrying oil for the global market.
“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,” said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at City Index and FOREX.com.
At least six tankers loaded with Iranian oil have been forced back to Iran by the US blockade in recent days, according to ship-tracking data. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the seizures as “outright legalization of piracy and armed robbery on the high seas.”
Domestic Pressure Mounts on Trump
As his approval ratings slide, Trump faces growing domestic pressure to end a war that has seen shifting justifications. Araqchi told reporters in Russia that Trump had requested negotiations because the US had failed to achieve its objectives. The White House has not commented on that claim.
The conflict began in February when the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran. A previous 2015 nuclear deal, which sharply limited Iran’s enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief, collapsed after Trump withdrew from it during his first term. Tehran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
With both sides dug in, the path to peace remains uncertain, and the global economy continues to feel the strain of a war that shows no signs of ending soon.
