A senior Iranian military officer warned on Saturday, May 2, that a return to active hostilities with the United States is “likely,” just hours after President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest negotiating proposal. Iran submitted a new draft proposal to mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening.
While state media has not disclosed the full contents, reports suggest that US envoy Steve Witkoff has countered with amendments that would place Tehran’s nuclear program back on the negotiating table.
These amendments reportedly include strict demands that Iran cease moving enriched uranium from sites damaged by bombing and halt all activity at those locations for the duration of the talks.
The conflict, which began in late February, has seen a fragile pause in fighting since April 8, but the rhetoric from both sides remains aggressive.
Speaking to reporters, Trump cited “tremendous discord” within Iran’s leadership as the reason for the stalled negotiations. He presented a stark choice between a total military conclusion and a diplomatic deal, stating that while he would prefer a deal on a “human basis,” the alternative would be to “blast the hell out of them and finish them forever.”
Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in Iran’s military central command, dismissed the likelihood of a diplomatic breakthrough, stating that the United States is not committed to any agreements. Additionally, Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei clarified that while Iran is open to negotiations, it will not accept the “imposition” of peace terms.
The ongoing tension continues to disrupt global markets, primarily due to the strategic situation in the Strait of Hormuz. News of a potential proposal briefly caused a five percent dip in oil prices, but they remain roughly 50 percent higher than pre-war levels.
Iran maintains its “stranglehold” on the Strait, significantly restricting the global flow of oil, gas, and fertilizer. In response, the United States has enforced a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
At a recent rally, President Trump described a US helicopter raid on an oil tanker attempting to bypass the blockade, remarking that the US was acting “like pirates” in its enforcement of the maritime restrictions.
Leave a Reply