Trump skeptical of Iran's new ceasefire proposal — WSJ
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump and his national security team have reacted skeptically to Iran’s new peace proposal, which calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and postponing discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program, according to The Wall Street Journal.
According to sources, on Monday morning, Trump held talks with his aides regarding the new peace proposal received from Iran.
In the end, Trump did not categorically reject it, but expressed concern that Iran is not acting in good faith and is not ready to meet his key demand: to stop enriching uranium and pledge not to develop nuclear weapons.
Sources add that the US will continue negotiations with Iran, and the White House is likely to provide its response and counterproposals in the coming days.
According to CNN’s sources, Trump made it clear during a meeting with his aides that he is unlikely to accept the Iranian proposal in its current form.
Trump threatened to resume bombing Iran if he deems the ceasefire negotiations fruitless. At the same time, there is a growing belief within the administration that the President is seeking to avoid a resumption of hostilities.
Background and what US says
A day earlier, Axios reported that Iran had presented the US with a new proposal to end the war. It calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz (including the lifting of the US blockade), while Tehran proposes postponing nuclear talks to a later stage.
The proposal was conveyed through Pakistani intermediaries after peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan broke down this weekend, effectively bringing the situation to a standstill.
Shortly after this report, Fox News aired an interview with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where he stated that Iran's attempts to maintain influence over the Strait of Hormuz were unacceptable to Washington.
