Iran replies to US proposal to end war, Trump finds response ‘unacceptable’

Iran’s response to a US proposal to end the war has been sent via mediator Pakistan, according to the Iranian state news agency IRNA.

The report said on Sunday that according to the proposed plan, the first stage of the negotiations will focus on ending hostilities, as well as ensuring “maritime security” in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our response focuses on ending the war throughout the region, especially in Lebanon, and resolving differences with Washington,” an official Iranian source told Al Jazeera. They said their response also included “negotiations regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the nuclear programme, and the lifting of sanctions”.

The source added that Tehran’s response was “realistic and positive”, adding: “Washington’s positive response to our response will move the negotiations forward quickly. The choice now lies with Washington.”

But in his first remarks since the development, US President Donald Trump on Sunday evening accused Iran of “playing games”.

Iran “has been playing games with the United States, and the rest of the World, for 47 years”, the president wrote on Truth Social. “They will be laughing no longer!”

Two hours later, he said on the same platform: “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives’. I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”

Washington sent Tehran a 14-point proposal earlier this week. Under its conditions, Iran would have to agree not to develop a nuclear weapon and stop all uranium enrichment for at least 12 years. It would also be required to hand over its estimated 440kg (970lb) stock of uranium enriched to 60 percent.

In return, the US would gradually lift sanctions, release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and halt its naval blockade of Iranian ports.

The development comes just a week before US President Donald Trump is due to visit China, which is one of the largest importers of Iranian oil and has strategic interests there.

Hormuz blockade

The US and Iran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz over the past week, yet neither country has announced a collapse of the ceasefire in place since April 8.

Trump believes that Iran is “collapsing financially” and losing millions of dollars a day due to Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports, which began on April 13.

While the blockade is hurting Iran, analysts said they believe the country has the economic and political will to endure it.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker and lead negotiator in the ceasefire talks, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Thursday that a full ceasefire could only work if the US naval blockade is lifted.

In response to US actions, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to all foreign shipping and captured several foreign-flagged ships. Previously, Iran had allowed some “friendly” ships to pass.

Stakes ‘very high’

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder in Islamabad said Pakistan is pushing Iran to “come to a middle ground” in negotiations.

“Details of the proposal from the Iranians are not known. This is sensitive diplomacy,” Hyder said. “Other countries – including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and China – have been in close touch with the Iranians and its foreign minister [about mediation efforts].”

Hyder added there was a sense of urgency to get a deal accepted, as the extended blockade of Hormuz is having a critical impact on the world economy, especially in Pakistan.

“The stakes are very high: Pakistan is suffering economically as well. The fuel prices are sky-high,” Hyder said.

“Pakistan has good relations with Iran, and it is in a favourable position with the Trump administration, so the likelihood of some sort of breakthrough is possible. The next few days will be critical and will depend on how favourably the US responds to whatever the Iranian response is.”

Abbas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies, said Iran’s latest answer to the US proposal is not a “yes or no response” but a clarification of Iranian views on the US text.

“If they can reach a kind of peace agreement at the initial stage, that could create a positive atmosphere and a trust-building measure somehow,” Aslani told Al Jazeera.

“But if the US wants to continue its demands, like Iran exporting its highly enriched uranium to the US or suspending enrichment for a long time, I think this could make any agreement impossible.”