WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran’s proposal for ending the ongoing Middle East war, calling Tehran’s response “totally unacceptable” and raising fears of renewed escalation after weeks of negotiations.
Iran had earlier responded to Washington’s latest peace proposal while warning that it would retaliate against any fresh US strikes and would not allow additional foreign naval deployments in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a brief post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump made clear that he was dissatisfied with Tehran’s counterproposal.
“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” the US president wrote.
Trump did not provide details of Iran’s response, but the exchange came amid continued tensions following the war launched on February 28 by Israel and the United States against Iran.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the conflict could not end until Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile was removed and its nuclear facilities dismantled.
“It’s not over, because there’s still nuclear material — enriched uranium — that has to be taken out of Iran,” Netanyahu said during an interview with CBS programme “60 Minutes”.
Iran, however, maintained a defiant stance despite ongoing diplomatic efforts behind closed doors.
“We will never bow down to the enemy, and if there is talk of dialogue or negotiation, it does not mean surrender or retreat,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on X.
According to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, Tehran’s response — delivered through Pakistani mediators — focused on ending the conflict “on all fronts, especially Lebanon”, where Israel continues operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah, as well as ensuring maritime security.
The reported impasse unsettled global energy markets, with international benchmark Brent crude rising 2.69% to $104.01 a barrel for July delivery.
Reports by The Wall Street Journal said Iran proposed diluting part of its highly enriched uranium stockpile and transferring the remainder to a third country under guarantees that it would be returned if negotiations collapsed or Washington withdrew from any future agreement.
The conflict has also intensified concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iran imposed a blockade on the strategic waterway earlier in the war, while the US Navy has since been operating around Iranian ports, diverting or disabling vessels in some cases.
Britain and France are now leading efforts to form an international coalition aimed at securing maritime trade routes in the Gulf after a peace agreement is reached. Both countries are expected to host a multinational defence meeting on Tuesday involving representatives from more than 40 nations.
Iran, however, warned that any foreign deployment in the strait would trigger an immediate response.
“Only the Islamic Republic of Iran can establish security in this strait and it will not allow any country to interfere in such matters,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X.
Fresh drone attacks further rattled the fragile ceasefire on Sunday.
The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted two drones launched from Iran, while Kuwait also reported hostile drones entering its airspace.
Meanwhile, Qatar said a freighter arriving from Abu Dhabi had been struck by a drone near its waters.
Iranian media later claimed the vessel was sailing under a US flag.
In another warning directed at Washington, Iranian parliament national security commission spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei said Tehran’s restraint had ended.
“Any attack on our vessels will trigger a strong and decisive Iranian response against American ships and bases,” he said.