A U.S. official told Reuters that the American president is unhappy with Iran’s latest proposal to resolve tensions.
According to the report, the proposal—presented by Iran’s foreign minister to Pakistani officials in Islamabad—calls for phased negotiations, with Iran’s nuclear program to be discussed at the final stage.
Under the proposal, the first step would be ending the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran and providing guarantees that Washington would not launch another war. Negotiators would then discuss the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and the future of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway Tehran intends to reopen in a controlled manner.
Only after these steps would other issues—including the longstanding dispute over Iran’s nuclear program—be addressed. Iran, however, is seeking recognition of its right to enrich uranium.
A U.S. official told Reuters that this approach would likely be unacceptable to Washington, which insists that nuclear issues must be addressed from the outset—one reason Trump is dissatisfied with the proposal.
Recently, the U.S. president canceled a planned visit to Islamabad by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Since then, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has traveled to Pakistan, Oman, and Russia.
The blockade of Iranian ports continues, and in recent days at least six oil tankers carrying Iranian crude have been forced to turn back.
Before the war, between 125 and 140 ships passed daily through the Strait of Hormuz, but only seven vessels transited yesterday—none carrying oil to global markets.
Trump, facing declining domestic approval, is under internal pressure to end the war, which he has justified to the public with varying arguments.
Araghchi told reporters in Russia yesterday that Trump is seeking negotiations because the United States has failed to achieve its objectives.
