Washington, United States. Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday as U.S. President Donald Trump voiced dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest proposal. Trump said Iran had told the United States it was in a “state of collapse” and trying to determine its leadership situation.
Dispute over negotiating sequence
Iran’s most recent offer to resolve the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was concluded and shipping disputes resolved. A U.S. official briefed on Trump’s Monday meeting with advisers said Trump wants nuclear issues addressed from the outset.
Trump’s comments and Iran’s response
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump wrote: “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’. They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!).”
It was unclear from the post how Iran might have communicated such a message, and there was no immediate response from Tehran. Earlier, an Iranian army spokesperson told state media the Islamic Republic did not consider the war over.
Shipping restrictions and U.S. measures
Iran has largely blocked all shipping apart from its own from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global energy supplies, since the war began on February 28. This month, the United States began blockading Iranian ships. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, that the president instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran’s ports.
Diplomatic efforts and mediation
Hopes of reviving peace efforts in a conflict that has killed thousands, disrupted energy markets and affected global trade routes have diminished since Trump last weekend scrapped a visit by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to mediator Pakistan. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled in and out of Islamabad twice during the weekend.
What do you think is the most immediate obstacle to restarting negotiations in the Iran conflict?