President Donald Trump on Friday rejected an Iranian peace proposal aimed at ending the US-Iran conflict and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Trump said, “They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens.”
“They’re asking for things I can’t agree to,” Trump said. But the president also indicated he wanted an agreement aimed at preventing a return to war altogether.
However, Trump did not reveal on what basis America is not ready to accept the Iranian peace proposal. Speaking to Reuters, a senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal, which was rejected by Trump, was “a significant change aimed at facilitating an agreement.”
But Trump rejected this proposal because it demanded postponing the nuclear talks to a later stage.
“Under this framework, negotiations on the more complex nuclear issue have been taken to the final stage to create a more conducive environment,” the official said.
The proposal would also focus on ending the war with a guarantee, as well as ensuring that the United States and Israel would not attack Iran again. Iran will be ready to open the strait and America will also lift its blockade.
Subsequent talks will focus on restricting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, Iran insists that Washington accept its right to enrich uranium for peaceful uses, even if it agrees to temporarily suspend those activities.
In contrast, Washington is unwilling to accept a clause where nuclear talks would be reserved for later stages.
Within two months, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz and the US has responded with a blockade of Iranian ports. The continued shutdowns have shocked global energy markets, sending oil prices soaring.
