The essence of the proposal: trading geography for time.
The Economist quoted a senior Iranian official as saying that Tehran has made a strategic concession by separating the military and maritime tracks from the nuclear track. According to the official, the proposal aims to “postpone nuclear talks to a later stage” to create an atmosphere of trust. The immediate proposal also focuses on de-escalating tensions in vital waterways, specifically the Strait of Hormuz, to ensure the flow of global energy.
The official explained that moving negotiations on the nuclear issue, the most complex of the two, to the final stage aims to “create a more conducive atmosphere” for reaching a comprehensive agreement. He asserted that this move puts the ball in the American court to choose between diplomacy or confrontation.
Trump’s reaction: No price is enough yet.
On the other hand, the White House’s reaction was not encouraging. While a ceasefire between the two sides hung by a thread, Trump issued sharp statements via Truth Social. He asserted that he “did not imagine the proposal would be acceptable.” Trump went even further, questioning the wisdom of reaching an agreement with a regime he deemed “not yet to pay a heavy enough price for what it has done to the world over the past 47 years.”
Speaking to reporters before boarding his plane in Palm Beach, Trump explained that he had only seen the “concept of the agreement,” not the precise details. However, he kept all options on the table, including “total bombing.” He asked, in a threatening tone, “Do we want to wipe them out forever, or do we want to reach an agreement?”
Iranian warnings against a “confrontational approach”
For his part, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi blamed Washington for obstructing peace. He also stressed that Iran is prepared to fight if military conflict resumes. While the world awaits the final wording of the proposal, tension remains high. It appears that Tehran’s offer to “open” the Strait of Hormuz was insufficient to resolve the long-standing animosity with the Trump administration.
