US officials say Iran’s latest 14-point peace plan is ‘insufficient for a deal’

WASHINGTON, DC: The US has reportedly rejected Iran’s revised peace proposal sent after Trump’s “clock is ticking” warning.

Hours after Trump’s dire warning against the Islamic Republic, Tehran had reportedly submitted a revised 14-point peace plan to Pakistani mediators, as state media claimed the US has made concessions in the negotiations.

US rejects Iran's revised peace proposal

The peace proposal was reportedly rejected on Monday, May 18, after senior officials found that the revision in the earlier sent proposal was “insufficient for a deal.”

The development comes amid heightened speculations that President Donald Trump might resume the military attack on Iran amid the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as he had reportedly grown frustrated with Iran’s tactics over peace deal terms.

“U.S. officials say President Trump wants a deal to end the war, but is considering resuming it due to Iran’s rejection of many of his demands and refusal to make meaningful concessions on its nuclear program,” Axios's Barak Ravid reported, citing US officials.

Iran submits new proposal via Pakistan

Earlier, Iran had reportedly submitted a revised 14-point peace proposal following Trump’s stark warning on Sunday, May 17, suggesting that Iran should act fast before nothing is left.

“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving Fast, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday.

Iranian media claimed that the new plan focuses on “negotiations to end the war and confidence-building measures by the American side,” Tasnim News Agency reported, citing a source close to the talks.

“Iran, in line with the recent practice of exchanging messages, has once again submitted its text in 14 points through the Pakistani mediator after making amendments,” the source told Tasnim. The updated proposal was reportedly sent to the US via Pakistan on Sunday night.

“We are really not making a lot of progress. We are at a very serious place today. The pressure is on them to be responsive in the right way,” the senior U.S. official told Ravid of the negotiations.

“It’s time for the Iranians to throw bit of candy out. We need some real, sturdy, and granular conversation [regarding the nuclear program]. If that’s not gonna happen, we will have a conversation through bombs, which will be a shame,” Axios quoted the source as adding.

US warns next conversation ‘through bombs’

The agency also claimed that the US backed Iran’s proposal to temporarily waive some oil sanctions during a negotiation period.

Earlier, it was reported on Sunday that Trump would meet with his top national security officials in the White House Situation Room to discuss the next steps in possibly resuming the war.

Axios, in its report, had said, “The senior U.S. official said that if Iran doesn’t shift its position, the U.S. will have to continue the negotiations ‘through bombs.'”