US President Donald Trump has labelled Iran’s response to a US-backed peace proposal “totally unacceptable,” as efforts to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled.
“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives’,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I don’t like it – TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”
Iranian state media earlier reported Tehran had submitted a response focused on ending the war across the region, particularly in Lebanon, and on restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, Iran proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile and transferring the remainder to a third country, but rejected dismantling its nuclear facilities.
Tehran also reportedly requested guarantees that any transferred uranium would be returned if negotiations collapsed.
The proposal was reportedly passed to Washington through Pakistani mediators.
Despite a ceasefire that has largely held for a month, tensions remain high across the Gulf region, with hostile drones reportedly detected over several countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait.
At the same time, two vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, including a QatarEnergy liquefied natural gas carrier bound for Pakistan and a Panama-flagged bulk carrier travelling to Brazil.
Trump accused Iran of “playing games” and warned Tehran would no longer be allowed to “laugh” at the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said the conflict was “not over”, stressing that Iran’s enriched uranium and missile capabilities still needed to be addressed.
“The best way to remove the enriched uranium would be through diplomacy,” Netanyahu said, while declining to rule out military action.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by saying Iran would “never bow down to the enemy” and would continue to “defend national interests with strength.”
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
