US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Iran’s latest peace proposal, leaving diplomatic efforts to end the three-month-old war caught between an uncertain negotiating track and a widening maritime crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said he would review Tehran’s new 14-point plan but signalled that it might fall short of Washington’s demands, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme, the lifting of blockades and the sequencing of a broader ceasefire. His remarks came as US officials prepared a naval operation to guide stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a move Tehran has warned could breach the fragile pause in fighting.
The proposal, channelled through Pakistan, seeks a halt to hostilities, the lifting of sanctions, an end to the US naval blockade, withdrawal of US forces from the region and a framework for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It also appears to defer detailed nuclear negotiations until after the war ends, a provision that has emerged as the central obstacle for Washington.
Trump has indicated that Iran must accept strict limits on its nuclear activities before any durable settlement can be reached. His administration has also insisted that maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz cannot remain subject to Iranian conditions. Tehran, by contrast, has argued that no meaningful talks can proceed while military pressure and shipping restrictions remain in place.
The war, which began in late February, has now moved beyond missile strikes and air operations into a broader struggle over energy routes, sanctions leverage and regional deterrence. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a major share of the world’s seaborne oil trade normally passes, has become the conflict’s most sensitive pressure point. Hundreds of vessels have been delayed or stranded, with crews facing shortages of food, fuel and supplies.
Washington says its planned escort effort is a humanitarian measure aimed at helping neutral countries whose ships have been trapped by the fighting. The operation is expected to involve US naval assets, aircraft and support units under Central Command. Iran has denounced the move as interference in waters it says are under its security control and has warned that foreign military activity could trigger a response.
The diplomatic track remains complicated by competing narratives from Washington and Tehran. Trump has suggested Iran is under severe internal pressure and may be reconsidering its position, while Iranian officials have presented the proposal as a serious path to de-escalation. Tehran has also rejected suggestions that it has accepted nuclear restrictions as part of the current draft.
Pakistan’s role as mediator has given the talks a channel for indirect communication, but the distance between the parties remains wide. Oman and other regional actors have also been involved in efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further. Gulf governments are pressing for the reopening of shipping lanes, while also seeking guarantees that any maritime operation will not turn the Gulf into a fresh battlefield.
The economic impact has sharpened international urgency. Energy prices have moved higher on concerns over disrupted Gulf exports, while insurance costs for tankers operating near the strait have surged. Shipping companies have rerouted some cargoes, adding time and cost to global supply chains already strained by conflict-related uncertainty.
Israel’s role remains central to Washington’s calculations. The US-Israel alliance has framed the campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to degrade armed networks aligned with Tehran across the region. Iran says it is defending its sovereignty and has accused Washington of using nuclear concerns as a pretext for regime pressure.
The 14-point proposal also touches on Lebanon, where fighting linked to Iran-backed groups has added another layer to the crisis. Tehran wants hostilities involving allied factions addressed within a wider settlement, while Washington and Israel have resisted any deal that appears to legitimise armed groups operating outside state control.
Trump’s scepticism reflects political pressures at home as well as strategic concerns abroad. Rising fuel prices, security risks for US forces and divisions among allies have increased the cost of prolonging the conflict. At the same time, accepting Iran’s terms without binding nuclear commitments would expose the administration to accusations of easing pressure before securing its core objective.
Trump said he would review Tehran’s new 14-point plan but signalled that it might fall short of Washington’s demands, particularly on Iran’s nuclear programme, the lifting of blockades and the sequencing of a broader ceasefire. His remarks came as US officials prepared a naval operation to guide stranded commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a move Tehran has warned could breach the fragile pause in fighting.
The proposal, channelled through Pakistan, seeks a halt to hostilities, the lifting of sanctions, an end to the US naval blockade, withdrawal of US forces from the region and a framework for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. It also appears to defer detailed nuclear negotiations until after the war ends, a provision that has emerged as the central obstacle for Washington.
Trump has indicated that Iran must accept strict limits on its nuclear activities before any durable settlement can be reached. His administration has also insisted that maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz cannot remain subject to Iranian conditions. Tehran, by contrast, has argued that no meaningful talks can proceed while military pressure and shipping restrictions remain in place.
The war, which began in late February, has now moved beyond missile strikes and air operations into a broader struggle over energy routes, sanctions leverage and regional deterrence. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a major share of the world’s seaborne oil trade normally passes, has become the conflict’s most sensitive pressure point. Hundreds of vessels have been delayed or stranded, with crews facing shortages of food, fuel and supplies.
Washington says its planned escort effort is a humanitarian measure aimed at helping neutral countries whose ships have been trapped by the fighting. The operation is expected to involve US naval assets, aircraft and support units under Central Command. Iran has denounced the move as interference in waters it says are under its security control and has warned that foreign military activity could trigger a response.
The diplomatic track remains complicated by competing narratives from Washington and Tehran. Trump has suggested Iran is under severe internal pressure and may be reconsidering its position, while Iranian officials have presented the proposal as a serious path to de-escalation. Tehran has also rejected suggestions that it has accepted nuclear restrictions as part of the current draft.
Pakistan’s role as mediator has given the talks a channel for indirect communication, but the distance between the parties remains wide. Oman and other regional actors have also been involved in efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further. Gulf governments are pressing for the reopening of shipping lanes, while also seeking guarantees that any maritime operation will not turn the Gulf into a fresh battlefield.
The economic impact has sharpened international urgency. Energy prices have moved higher on concerns over disrupted Gulf exports, while insurance costs for tankers operating near the strait have surged. Shipping companies have rerouted some cargoes, adding time and cost to global supply chains already strained by conflict-related uncertainty.
Israel’s role remains central to Washington’s calculations. The US-Israel alliance has framed the campaign as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to degrade armed networks aligned with Tehran across the region. Iran says it is defending its sovereignty and has accused Washington of using nuclear concerns as a pretext for regime pressure.
The 14-point proposal also touches on Lebanon, where fighting linked to Iran-backed groups has added another layer to the crisis. Tehran wants hostilities involving allied factions addressed within a wider settlement, while Washington and Israel have resisted any deal that appears to legitimise armed groups operating outside state control.
Trump’s scepticism reflects political pressures at home as well as strategic concerns abroad. Rising fuel prices, security risks for US forces and divisions among allies have increased the cost of prolonging the conflict. At the same time, accepting Iran’s terms without binding nuclear commitments would expose the administration to accusations of easing pressure before securing its core objective.
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