Iran vows to fight on as Trump rejects peace; oil surges

Iran peace – As Trump rejects Iran’s peace response, Tehran vows continued resistance, fighting persists in Lebanon, and oil prices jump amid shipping fears.

A fresh round of diplomatic rejection and military warnings has pushed tensions higher across the Middle East and jolted energy markets, with Iran vowing to keep fighting and U.S. leaders signaling the conflict is far from over.

Iran’s leadership responded to President Trump’s dismissal of its latest reply to a U.S.. peace proposal with strong language aimed at preventing any signal of retreat.. In a statement and remarks carried by Iranian outlets. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would “never bow down” and insisted that any talk of dialogue or negotiation should not be read as surrender or retreat.. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei echoed that stance on Monday. saying Iran is prepared to fight whenever necessary while continuing diplomacy when Tehran deems it appropriate.

Trump’s rejection, described as “totally unacceptable,” has intensified uncertainty about whether hostilities can wind down.. The president’s comments also raised the possibility that U.S.. and allied operations could continue. even after significant progress. because he said certain targets remain. including the removal of nuclear material and the dismantling of enrichment sites.

U.S.. and Iranian officials also traded narratives about what “peace” would require.. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it did not demand concessions. arguing that its response sought only “legitimate rights.” It said Tehran’s conditions included an end to the war across the region. an end to the U.S.. naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, and the release of frozen Iranian assets held abroad.. Iran also linked its positions to safe maritime navigation through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz and called for stopping what it described as U.S.. maritime interference targeting commercial vessels.

Meanwhile, the Iranian government sought to project stability in its energy sector despite the pressure of the U.S.. blockade.. Iran’s oil minister. Mohsen Paknejad. acknowledged that the industry has faced challenges tied to the blockade of ports and vessels. but he asserted that countermeasures meant “production did not decrease.” Paknejad dismissed claims that Iran’s oil wells have been damaged as “unrealistic fantasies. ” offering no specific details about what measures were used.

Energy markets reacted quickly to the renewed diplomatic stalemate and the risk of disrupted shipping.. Oil prices jumped again Monday after Trump rejected Iran’s response, with benchmark crude rising in early trading.. Traders cited broader concerns that there is no clear sign of an imminent agreement to end the war and reopen key shipping lanes. particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. where Tehran has imposed restrictions that can affect global supply routes.

The Strait of Hormuz itself has remained a focal point as shipping patterns shift.. Several liquid gas and other vessels transited over the weekend after a period with no visible movement reported in the waterway.. A Qatari-flagged LNG tanker. Al Kharaitiyat. traveled on Saturday toward Pakistan. an action described as a confidence-building effort authorized by Iran.. Another vessel. the Agios Fanourios I. also crossed on Sunday. with Iranian statements describing it as done in coordination with Iranian authorities.. Separately. a tanker linked to Russia’s shadow fleet. the Kiara M. reappeared off the Omani coast after being last seen earlier in May.

Iran’s demands that vessels coordinate passage with its military—widely viewed as a mechanism for controlling traffic and potentially charging tolls—help explain why these movements are watched closely.. British tracking data and maritime monitoring previously indicated a lull in certain reported transits during parts of late May.

While the focus remains on U.S.-Iran negotiations and maritime routes. fighting on multiple fronts is complicating efforts to reach broader understandings.. In Lebanon. violence between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah continued beyond a ceasefire signed a month ago. with Israeli forces warning civilians to evacuate villages in southern Lebanon.. Hezbollah also circulated video content alleging strikes on Israeli troops. while Israeli strikes reportedly hit areas even when residents had not received specific warnings.

Lebanon’s toll has continued to climb since the conflict intensified earlier in the year.. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said at least 2. 846 people have been killed since March 2. and more than 1 million people have been displaced.. Israeli officials. meanwhile. said the escalation has also led to military and civilian casualties inside Israel since early March. underscoring the breadth of the conflict’s impact.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added another layer of messaging to the U.S.. track, telling CBS News’ 60 Minutes that the war Israel and the U.S.. launched on Feb.. 28 “is not over.” Netanyahu argued that. despite degradation of Iran’s capabilities. remaining work includes dealing with enriched uranium. dismantling enrichment sites. and confronting Iran-backed proxies and ballistic missile efforts.

Across the wider region, uneasy conditions also surfaced around ceasefire claims.. U.S.. Gulf partners said Iran launched new drone attacks while a ceasefire remains “shaky.” A small fire was reported on a ship off the coast of Qatar after a drone incident. while the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait reported drones entering their airspaces.. The UAE blamed Iran, and there were no immediate reports of casualties or an identified responsible party.

As diplomacy and deterrence move in tandem, Washington is also preparing for additional political leverage efforts.. Trump is expected to travel to Beijing for a summit with Xi Jinping. with Iran likely to be a major topic.. A senior administration official said Trump plans to seek pressure on China to influence Tehran’s decisions and address concerns that China has purchased oil despite U.S.. sanctions and has been involved in dual-use goods.. The official also suggested that U.S.. sanctions against Chinese entities could be discussed.

Iran’s foreign ministry. for its part. expressed hope that China would use the opportunity to reinforce Tehran’s positions rather than push Iran to accept U.S.. demands.. Iranian officials warned that what they described as U.S.. “illegal and bullying actions” have consequences for regional peace and economic stability. framing China’s role as pivotal in whether tensions ease.

In Tehran and Washington. the central disagreement remains what concessions are required and what timing matters most—whether the immediate priority is ending fighting and securing maritime stability or advancing longer-term demands related to nuclear capabilities.. With shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continuing to be closely managed and prices sensitive to renewed hostilities. the next days could determine whether negotiations produce any tangible pathway to de-escalation or whether the conflict expands again.

Iran peace proposal Trump Iran response Strait of Hormuz oil prices Hezbollah Israel ceasefire Persian Gulf shipping