Iran-U.S. deadlock after Trump rejects Iran plan

Iran U.S. – Trump dismissed Iran’s proposal as “totally unacceptable,” as both sides trade demands over Hormuz security, frozen assets, and nuclear enrichment.

A fresh round of diplomacy has stalled sharply after President Donald Trump rejected what Iran described as a “reasonable and generous” package, leaving the U.S. and Tehran facing an impasse over shipping security, frozen assets, and the future of Iran’s nuclear work.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of presenting “one-sided views” and pressing “unreasonable” and “excessive demands. ” according to a statement from spokesman Esmail Baghaei delivered at a news conference.. Baghaei said Tehran’s proposals were designed to serve both Iran’s national interests and broader regional and even global well-being.

The comments followed Trump’s response on Sunday that he found Iran’s reply “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” Trump posted on Truth Social that he had read the response from Iran’s so-called representatives and that he simply did not like it. while offering no details about what specifically failed to meet his expectations.

Baghaei said Iran’s offer included a stoppage of maritime piracy against Iranian ships. which he framed as an indirect reference to Washington’s moves that have effectively pressured Iran’s ports.. He also pointed to a request that assets belonging to the Iranian people. frozen for years in foreign banks under American pressure. be released.

In addition to asset issues and shipping-related concerns. Baghaei said Iran wanted “safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz and called for establishing security and peace across the region. including Lebanon.. His remarks referenced the ongoing Israel-Hizbollah conflict. noting that Israel has continued attacks it says are aimed at the militant group Hezbollah despite a ceasefire.

The diplomatic flare-up is occurring amid heightened maritime tensions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. a narrow waterway with major commercial and strategic importance.. Last week. Trump abandoned a short-lived plan known as “Project Freedom. ” which was designed to use military vessels to escort merchant ships through the strait.

After the escort plan was dropped, the two sides traded fire repeatedly, with the U.S.. saying its destroyers launched “self-defense strikes” after they were attacked.. The U.S.. has also maintained that the exchanges do not signify an end to the ceasefire. even as the temporary arrangement remains in place more than a month after it was initially intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In a phone interview Friday with NBC News, Trump said “No” when asked whether the conflict with Iran was over.. That stance was echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. who told CBS News’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday that the conflict was “not over. ” adding that Israel and the U.S.. could reengage militarily if negotiations fail to produce results on extracting nuclear material from Iran.

At the heart of the negotiations. according to the reporting. is the U.S.-Israeli demand that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium be removed from the country.. The issue is particularly sensitive because enrichment is tied to Iran’s nuclear capabilities. even as Iran insists it has no intention of building a bomb.

Iran has long denied seeking a nuclear weapon. but enrichment activity beyond civilian needs has continued. with reporting indicating that Iran accelerated those efforts after Trump dismantled the previous nuclear agreement.. That background helps explain why the talks appear to be running into a fundamental mismatch: Iran emphasizes security. assets. and regional stability. while Washington and its Israeli partner prioritize limits on enriched uranium.

Even as the focus shifts toward diplomacy, the U.S.. has continued a blockade of Iran’s ports.. Energy industry analysts and two Western officials familiar with intelligence assessments told NBC News that Iran could likely withstand a naval blockade for months. suggesting that time may not be an immediate pressure point in the way either side may be hoping.

For Tehran. the offer described by Baghaei ties regional security—especially the safety of shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz—to the lifting of financial constraints. such as frozen assets.. For Washington and Jerusalem. the emphasis on removing highly enriched uranium reflects a strategy aimed at constraining Iran’s long-term nuclear trajectory. meaning that even broad security gestures may not satisfy the core condition the U.S.. and Israel are pressing.

Taken together. the exchange illustrates how the ceasefire around the Strait of Hormuz and the broader nuclear question are now intertwined in public messaging and bargaining positions. with both sides signaling that failure to make progress could leave room for further confrontation rather than a quick reset.

Iran U.S. talks Strait of Hormuz frozen Iranian assets Trump Iran proposal highly enriched uranium Lebanon ceasefire