President Donald Trump is dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal to end the ongoing conflict, according to a U.S. official, casting fresh doubt over efforts to bring the two-month war to an end.
Report obtained by Reuters shows that the plan from Iran suggests postponing talks on its nuclear programme until after the fighting stops and tensions over Gulf shipping are resolved. That approach appears to be a sticking point for Washington, which insists the nuclear issue must be addressed from the outset.
A U.S. official familiar with Trump’s discussions with advisers said the president was unhappy with the sequencing in Tehran’s proposal, seeing it as a delay on a central concern.
The White House has declined to comment directly on the details but reiterated that its position on key conditions remains unchanged.
Diplomatic momentum has slowed in recent days. A planned visit to Islamabad by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner was cancelled over the weekend, even as Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, moved between Pakistan, Oman and Russia in search of support.
Meanwhile, the war continues to ripple through global markets.
Oil prices rose again on Tuesday, driven by ongoing disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global energy supplies.
Tanker traffic has dropped sharply, with only a handful of vessels passing through in the past day none carrying oil for international markets.
At least six tankers carrying Iranian crude have recently been forced to turn back due to a U.S. naval blockade, according to shipping data.
Tehran has condemned the seizures, calling them unlawful and accusing Washington of piracy at sea.
Under the latest Iranian proposal, negotiations would unfold in stages: first ending hostilities and securing guarantees against renewed conflict, then addressing maritime restrictions and reopening the strait, before eventually turning to the long-running dispute over uranium enrichment.
But with both sides still far apart and domestic pressure mounting on Trump to bring the war to an end any breakthrough appears distant for now.
