Trump unhappy with Iranian proposal because nuclear programme not addressed: US official

[WASHINGTON] A US official said on Monday (Apr 27) that President Donald Trump is unhappy with an Iranian proposal because it did not address Iran’s nuclear programme.

“He doesn’t love the proposal,” the US official said, referring to Trump.

Earlier in the day, Trump discussed the proposal with his top national security aides. The US-Iran conflict remains in a stalemate with energy supplies from the region reduced.

Iranian sources earlier on Monday said the proposal would set ‌aside discussion of Iran’s nuclear programme until the war has ended and disputes over shipping from the Gulf are resolved. Washington has said nuclear issues must be dealt with from the outset.

Work to bridge gaps between the US and Iran has not halted, sources from mediator Pakistan have said.

But hopes of reviving peace efforts have receded since Trump announced on Apr 25 that he had scrapped a visit ⁠by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump and his advisers were wary of the Iranian proposal, particularly regarding the country’s nuclear programme. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and longtime Trump ally, also expressed scepticism.

“To have a successful negotiation, you have to have two willing partners,” Graham said. “Clearly, if this offer is accurate, Iran is playing games. Mr President, stick to your guns for the good of the nation and the world.”

Iran demands US lifts naval blockade

Separately, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, on a visit to Russia, told President Vladimir Putin that Teheran was committed to strengthening the partnership between their nations.

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Araghchi said that the Iranian people were able to resist “US aggression and will be able to overcome it”, Iran state-owned Nour News said on Monday.

Iranian media said on Sunday that Araghchi would convey to mediator Pakistan that the conflict could end if the Americans lift their naval blockade, agree to a new legal framework for traffic going through the strait and guarantee there will be no future military action against the Islamic Republic.

Iran told Pakistan that negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme – a longer-standing issue – could be dealt with later, Axios reported, citing a US official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.

Brent crude prices rose for a sixth straight session to settle above US$108 a barrel. US oil ended the session above US$96 a barrel.

Oil traders added to bullish moves after hopes for peace talks over the past weekend were dashed. Investors remain largely focused on a growing supply crunch created by the virtual standstill of flows through the strait.

Pressure to reopen Hormuz

Foreign leaders have expressed frustration over the prolonged conflict.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a group of students that the US was being “humiliated” by Iranian leaders and that he cannot figure out what exit the Americans are pursuing.

An interim accord would echo what many Middle East analysts have said for weeks – that the US and Iran should reopen the strait as soon as possible to lower fuel prices and ease pressure on the global economy, while leaving issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme for later talks. Some Persian Gulf Arab and European leaders believe that such negotiations will take at least six months, Bloomberg has reported.

Trump, however, has indicated that Iran’s atomic programme must be resolved as part of any agreement and that the blockade will stay in place until then. The White House has said that the blockade is putting pressure on Iran to make concessions by choking off its oil exports. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG