President Donald Trump swiftly rejected Iran’s response to a US peace proposal on Monday, calling it ‘totally unacceptable,’ sending oil prices higher and deepening uncertainty over the 10-week-old conflict that has paralyzed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Days after the United States floated an offer to re-open negotiations, Iran released a response on Sunday that focused on ending the war on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. According to Iranian state TV, Tehran also demanded compensation for war damages and emphasized Iranian sovereignty over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iran called on the US to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions, and terminate the US ban on Iranian oil sales.
Within hours, Trump dismissed the proposal in a post on Truth Social: ‘I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,’ without providing further details. The US had proposed an end to fighting before addressing more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.
Oil prices surged by $3 a barrel on Monday as the stalemate persisted, leaving the narrow Strait of Hormuz — which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil supply — largely closed. The waterway has emerged as a central pressure point in the conflict, with surveys showing the war is unpopular among US voters facing sharply higher gasoline prices less than six months before nationwide elections that will determine whether Trump’s Republican Party retains control of Congress.
The US has found little international support, with NATO allies refusing to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz without a full peace deal and an internationally mandated mission. It remains unclear what diplomatic or military steps lie ahead.
Trump is expected to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday, with Iran among the topics he is set to discuss with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US has leaned on China to use its influence to push Tehran toward a deal. Addressing whether combat operations against Iran were over, Trump said in remarks aired on Sunday: ‘They are defeated, but that doesn’t mean they’re done.’ Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded on social media, declaring that Iran would ‘never bow down to the enemy’ and would defend national interests with strength.
Despite diplomatic efforts, the threat to shipping lanes and regional economies remains high, with recent days witnessing the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the strait since a ceasefire began.
Source: ARY News