WASHINGTON: Efforts to end the Middle East war appeared at a standstill on Tuesday, with the US considering Tehran's latest offer to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran saying Washington could no longer dictate terms. Iran has blockaded the waterway — a vital conduit for oil and gas shipments — since the start of the US-Israeli offensive two months ago, sending shockwaves through the global economy. CNN reported that US President Donald Trump was unlikely to accept Iran's proposal to restore traffic in the strait, as Qatar warned of the possibility of a "frozen conflict" if a definitive resolution is not found.
Trump met with top security advisors to discuss the Iranian proposal after Tehran passed "written messages" to Washington via Pakistan spelling out its red lines, including on nuclear issues and Hormuz, Iran's Fars news agency reported. The proposal was "being discussed," spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told a White House briefing. The plan would reportedly see Tehran ease its chokehold on the strait and Washington lift its retaliatory blockade on Iranian ports while broader negotiations continue, including over the thorny question of Iran's nuclear program. But CNN, citing two sources familiar with the matter, said Trump had signaled at Monday's meeting that he was reluctant to take Hormuz off the table without resolving the nuclear question, though it was unclear what his next steps would be.
Iranian defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said on Tuesday that Washington "must abandon its illegal and irrational demands." "The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," he said, according to state TV. Asked about Iran's proposal, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News "it's better than what we thought they were going to submit," but questioned whether it was genuine. "They're very good negotiators," he said, "and we have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point."
Mediator Pakistan previously hosted an initial, unsuccessful round of US-Iran peace talks, but hopes for a second over the weekend ultimately came to nothing. Trump has said that if Iran wants talks, "they can call us." Tehran would need guarantees that Washington and Israel would not attack again if it was to offer security assurances for the Gulf, Iran's envoy to the UN said.
On a visit to Russia, where he met President Vladimir Putin, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the war had shown "Iran's true power" and stability, but back home in Tehran, the mood was more sober. "Everything in the country is up in the air right now. I have not worked for a long time," small business owner Farshad told Paris-based journalists. "The country is in complete economic collapse."
Tehran resident Shervin, a photographer, said he too was feeling the pinch. "It is the first time that I have reached a point where I was late on my rent," he said. Iran's blockade of Hormuz has cut off flows of oil, gas and fertiliser and sent prices soaring. Trump faces domestic pressure to find an off-ramp as prices rise, with midterm elections due in November and polls showing the war is unpopular among Americans.
Donald Trump said Iran had informed him it was in a "state of collapse" and was figuring out its leadership situation, as efforts to end the conflict appeared at an impasse on Tuesday with the US president unhappy at the latest plans from Tehran. Iran's most recent proposal on resolving the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was concluded and disputes over shipping from the Gulf resolved.
Trump wants nuclear issues dealt with from the outset, a US official briefed on Trump's Monday meeting with his advisers said. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday Trump said: "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!). Thank you for your attention to this matter!". It was not clear from Trump's social media post how Iran might have communicated that message. — Agencies
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