Iran put Hormuz on the table and Trump said the terms are things he 'can't agree to'

WASHINGTON, DC: An Iranian proposal rejected by President Donald Trump would reopen shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end mutual blockades, while postponing negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, according to a senior Iranian official.

The plan comes four weeks after the United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran, yet no agreement has been reached to formally end the conflict, which has triggered the most severe disruption to global energy supplies on record.

Iran has restricted nearly all Gulf shipping except its own vessels for over two months, while Washington imposed a counter-blockade on ships linked to Iranian ports last month.

Trump signals dissatisfaction with latest Iran talks

Trump said on Friday, May 1, that he was “not satisfied” with the latest Iranian offer, without detailing specific objections.

“They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to,” he told reporters at the White House.

The US administration has consistently maintained that it will not end the war without a deal that ensures Iran can never develop a nuclear weapon, the central objective cited by Trump when he ordered strikes in February during ongoing nuclear negotiations. Iran, however, continues to insist its nuclear programme is purely peaceful.

Tehran pushes phased negotiation strategy

The Iranian official described the proposal as a significant shift aimed at breaking the deadlock by deferring contentious nuclear issues.

Under the framework, the war would end with guarantees from the United States and Israel against future attacks. In return, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the US would lift its blockade.

Subsequent negotiations would then focus on limits to Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Tehran is seeking recognition of its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, even if it agrees to suspend enrichment temporarily.

“Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said.

The proposal, conveyed through mediators, formalizes earlier indications that Iran was willing to reopen the Strait before resolving nuclear disputes, a sequencing that appears to remain a key sticking point for Washington.