US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest truce proposal after Tehran sought sanctions relief and other concessions before restarting negotiations, according to US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz.
Speaking to US media, Waltz said the Trump administration did not have confidence that Iran would follow through on its commitments.
Iran Sought Concessions Before Talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had presented a proposal calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a return to negotiations.
The plan reportedly sought the release of frozen Iranian assets, relief from oil sanctions and an end to the US naval blockade. Iran said the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if the conditions were accepted.
Waltz said Washington viewed the demand for major concessions before substantive negotiations as unacceptable.
US Questions Iran’s Commitment
Waltz said the administration’s position was influenced by what it described as previous problems with Iranian commitments. He said Trump wanted stronger assurances concerning negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump has separately said he rejected the proposal because he believed Tehran was seeking an agreement while under significant pressure.
Iran has rejected the US characterisation of its proposal. Araghchi said Tehran remained open to diplomacy but questioned the possibility of negotiations with Washington because of what he described as previous US actions.
Indirect Talks Could Continue
Despite Trump’s rejection of the latest proposal, the diplomatic channel has not completely closed.
Trump has said he expects further indirect discussions with Iran, while regional mediators continue efforts to bring the two sides back to negotiations. The main areas of disagreement include the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, the US blockade and Iran’s nuclear programme.
The developments leave the next stage of US-Iran diplomacy uncertain, with both sides maintaining significantly different conditions for reaching an agreement.
