Iran has responded to the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal through Pakistani mediators, calling for negotiations focused on permanently ending the war across the region, but U.S. President Donald Trump swiftly dismissed the response as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”
The proposal reportedly addressed ending hostilities, reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, and scaling back Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s state television said Tehran also wants guarantees covering regional stability, including an end to fighting in Lebanon, where Hezbollah continues clashes with Israel.
Trump accused Iran of “playing games” with Washington for decades and warned Tehran that “they will be laughing no longer.”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington is still giving diplomacy “every chance” before considering renewed military action.
Meanwhile, Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly issued fresh directives for continued military operations during a meeting with senior commanders, according to Iranian state media.
The fragile ceasefire faced new strain after drone incidents were reported across Gulf nations. A drone attack sparked a small fire aboard a vessel near Qatar, while authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait said drones entered their airspace.
The UAE blamed Iran for the incidents, though no group claimed responsibility. No casualties were reported.
Qatar condemned the incident as a dangerous escalation threatening maritime trade and critical regional supply routes.
The conflict has increasingly centered around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping lanes. Iran has largely blocked the waterway since the war began, disrupting global energy markets.
In response, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and recently struck two Iranian oil tankers accused of violating restrictions. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned any attack on Iranian commercial shipping would trigger heavy retaliation against U.S. bases and allied vessels in the region.
The American military said it has turned back 61 commercial ships and disabled four vessels since the blockade started on April 13.
Another major issue in negotiations remains Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran possesses more than 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, close to weapons-grade levels.
Iranian military spokesman Akrami Nia said the country’s armed forces are on “full readiness” to defend nuclear facilities from possible attacks or infiltration attempts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the conflict cannot truly end unless Iran’s enriched uranium is removed from the country. He also revealed that Trump had discussed the possibility of physically entering Iranian nuclear sites.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow’s offer to take custody of Iran’s enriched uranium as part of a negotiated settlement.
According to Rafael Mariano Grossi, much of Iran’s enriched uranium is believed to be stored at the Isfahan nuclear complex, a site previously targeted during U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
Iran also warned against a proposed joint French-British maritime mission intended to secure shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that any foreign naval cooperation with U.S. operations in the strait would receive a “decisive and immediate response.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said the proposed mission would focus on protecting commercial shipping rather than military confrontation.
Meanwhile, South Korea announced preliminary findings showing that two unidentified airborne objects struck the South Korean-operated vessel HMM NAMU in the Strait of Hormuz last week, causing an explosion and onboard fire. Authorities have not identified who was responsible.