Despite A New Proposal From Iran, Ceasefire Negotiations With U.S. Are In Flux

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Diplomatic efforts to end conflict Iran war The weekend stalled again as both sides pushed ahead with their demands, even as they face increasing pressure to reach a compromise.

Iran says it will not reopen the door Strait of Hormuz Unless the USA lifts the blockade and ends the war. US President Donald Trump wants a broader deal that would end Iran’s nuclear program and address other issues such as its missile program and support for regional proxies.

The clock is ticking for both sides.

The continued closure of the strait has caused gas prices to rise and could further damage the world economy ahead of the US midterm elections. The blockade is suffocating Iran’s economy.

Both sides are waiting for the other to blink. Here’s what you need to know.

of Iran final offer It will postpone negotiations on its nuclear program to a later date.

The deal would instead see Washington lift its blockade of Iranian ports and end Tehran’s pressure on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a long-term or permanent ceasefire, according to two regional officials with knowledge of the offer who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door talks.

This offer will likely be rejected by Trump. First, it doesn’t address the fundamental issue he was talking about when he started bombing on February 28: finding a way to get Iran bombed. we can’t make atomic weapons. Iran also appears to remain silent on other important issues, such as its missile program and its support for proxies in the region.

“We can’t let them get away with this,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview on Fox News on Monday, appearing to rule out any deal that excludes Iran’s nuclear program.

“We have to make sure that any agreement that is made, any agreement that is made, is an agreement that will definitively prevent them from going nuclear at any point,” Rubio said.

Trump this weekend Sending ambassadors to Pakistan was abandonedplays an important mediating role. Trump appears to be signaling that he is happy to continue squeezing Iran through the blockade, saying the Iranians can make any proposals to Washington.

The U.S. blockade both restricts oil sales, a key source of foreign currency for Iran’s theocracy, and threatens to force Tehran to eventually shut down production if it can’t get its crude to market. Iran was already facing problems at home its economyand may get worse as time goes by.

The global economy is also suffering: With few ships able to pass the strait through which about 20% of oil and gas trade passes, oil and gasoline prices are soaring and jet fuel, cooking gas and other energy products are becoming scarce in some parts of the world.

The current ceasefire began on April 8, after multiple deadlines. Trump threatened Iran’s “civilization” at some point. A separate ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon also came into effect.

Trump extended the ceasefire with Iran indefinitely after waffling between various timelines of the conflict.

But negotiations to end the war stalled.

A few days after the ceasefire began, US Vice President J.D. Vance participated in the highest-level talks between America and Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They ended without a deal.

Pakistan is trying to bring the two sides to the table in Islamabad. But this weekend it removed all the checkpoints and security it had in anticipation of talks. This indicates that there is no immediate hope of resuming negotiations.

While negotiations appear to be at an impasse, the US military presence in the Middle East continues to grow. As of Monday, the U.S. Navy had three aircraft carrier groups in the area: USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford and USS George H.W. Bush.

These carriers include approximately 15,000 sailors and sailors, as well as more than 200 aircraft and additional ships. An amphibious assault group led by the USS Tripoli is also in the Middle East with its own sailors, marines and aircraft.

This comes on top of the deployment of fighter jets, refueling teams and other troops to the region.

Russian state news agency Tass said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. This comes after Araghchi’s recent visits to Pakistan and Oman. Pakistan was a key mediator in this war, and Oman has long been an important interlocutor between the United States and Iran.

Russia generally stayed out of the recent conflict. It has been suggested that Moscow may take Iran’s highly enriched uranium, and Trump has insisted on its removal. This uranium could be used to make a bomb if Iran chooses to make one; but Tehran insists its program is for civilian purposes only.

Although Russia has signaled its willingness to help, Tehran maintains that it will not give up the stockpile.

All of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stays in the countryIt was probably buried in enrichment fields bombed by the US during a 12-day war last June.

Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.