Trump Reviews Iran Peace Proposal Amid Skepticism
US President Donald Trump announced he is reviewing the latest peace proposal from Tehran but expressed doubt about achieving a diplomatic breakthrough, stating that Iran has not yet "paid a big enough price" for its past actions.
His comments come amid increasing speculation about the possibility of renewed US strikes against Iran aimed at compelling concessions, including a halt to Tehran's nuclear program.
Israeli Military Prepares for Possible US Strikes
Reports from the Israeli press cited senior military officials preparing for potential US strikes on Iran and anticipating retaliatory actions from Tehran.
A senior Israeli officer who briefed reporters on Friday emphasized that any peace agreement lacking a cessation of Iran's uranium enrichment and the surrender of its nuclear program would be deemed a failure.
Rising Tensions and Prospects of Renewed Conflict
In Iran, the military-backed Fars news agency quoted a senior official warning that a return to full-scale conflict was "likely," four weeks after a ceasefire brokered by Pakistan. Efforts by Pakistan to resume peace talks in Islamabad have stalled after the first round, with each side setting preconditions the other refused to meet.
When asked on Saturday about the possibility of renewed hostilities, Trump responded:
If they misbehave, if they do something bad, but right now, we’ll see.
While threatening a return to bombing, Trump has also argued to Congress that the ceasefire means hostilities have "terminated," aiming to assert that the administration is not required to seek congressional approval for military operations within the legal 60-day deadline from the war's start.
Negotiations and Blockades Impacting Global Oil Supply
Previous US-Iran negotiations, initiated alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had included discussions about suspending uranium enrichment for several years and diluting or exporting Iran's nuclear stockpile.
The ongoing war has triggered an additional crisis, with both sides imposing blockades on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies. These blockades are used as economic leverage to extract concessions, with severe implications for global energy markets.
Iran's New 14-Point Peace Proposal
On Friday, Iran submitted a new 14-point proposal to the US via Pakistan, reportedly focusing on lifting the blockades and establishing a new mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian press portrayed this as a comprehensive peace plan to be implemented within 30 days, rather than merely a ceasefire.
The proposal also included compensation payments to Tehran for war damages, lifting of sanctions, and cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, where fighting continues despite a ceasefire declared by Trump. On Sunday, Israel ordered thousands to evacuate villages in southern Lebanon.
Trump told reporters on Saturday he had not yet reviewed the details of the new Iranian proposal but planned to examine the full text that day. Shortly after, he posted on social media:
I can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.
Complications Arising from US Blockade and International Relations
Trump had already rejected an earlier Iranian proposal focused on the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week. His willingness to maintain a US blockade on all shipping through Iranian ports complicates a planned visit to China later this month. China is Iran's largest oil customer, accounting for 80% of its exports and about 13% of China's oil imports.
The intelligence wing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps issued a statement via state television on Sunday:
Trump must choose between an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The statement also cited a "shift in tone" from China, Russia, and Europe towards Washington and referred to Iran's own "deadline" on the blockade, though the specific deadline was unclear.
The US has threatened to intensify its blockade by imposing sanctions on shipping companies found to have made payments to Tehran to move cargoes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Domestic Political Implications for Trump
Rising petrol prices and a slowing global economy present political challenges for Trump as the US approaches congressional elections in November. A Democratic victory in one or both chambers could weaken his presidency. Despite domestic concerns, Trump has adopted an increasingly aggressive stance internationally, targeting both adversaries and allies.
Troop Redeployment and Tensions with Germany
Trump has indicated readiness to escalate tensions with Germany over defense spending, specifically addressing Friedrich Merz. The Pentagon was reportedly surprised by Trump's social media announcement of troop redeployments but later confirmed that 5,000 of approximately 40,000 US troops in Germany would be withdrawn.
On the following day, Trump told reporters:
We’re going to cut way down. And we’re cutting a lot further than 5,000.
He did not provide reasons for the redeployment, which could face congressional opposition if troop levels in Europe fall below the minimum threshold established by legislation late last year. This threshold of 76,000 troops was set after the administration withdrew a brigade from Romania and following earlier threats to pull troops out of Germany and other European countries.
Republican chairs of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees criticized the proposed withdrawal from Germany, stating it:
Risks undermining deterrence and sending the wrong signal to Vladimir Putin.
They recommended relocating troops further east toward Russia rather than withdrawing them from Europe.
