By Reuters
DUBAI: Efforts to end the Iran conflict were at an impasse on Tuesday with U.S. President Donald Trump unhappy with the latest proposal from Tehran, which he said had informed the U.S. it was in a “state of collapse” and figuring out its leadership situation.
Iran’s most recent offer for resolving the two-month war would set aside discussion of its nuclear programme until the conflict was concluded and shipping disputes resolved.
But Trump wants nuclear issues dealt with from the outset, a U.S. official briefed on Trump’s Monday meeting with his advisers said.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said: “Iran has just informed us that they are in a ‘State of Collapse’. They want us to ‘Open the Hormuz Strait,’ as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!).”
It was unclear from his post how Iran might have communicated that message and there was no immediate response from Tehran to Trump’s latest comments.
Earlier, an Iranian army spokesperson told state media the Islamic Republic did not consider the war over.
Iran has largely blocked all shipping apart from its own from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global energy supplies, since the war began on February 28. This month, the U.S. began blockading Iranian ships.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing U.S. officials, that the president had instructed aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran’s ports.
IRAN’S GUARDS TAKE GREATER ROLE
Hopes of reviving peace efforts in a conflict that has killed thousands, thrown energy markets into turmoil and disrupted global trade routes have receded since Trump last weekend scrapped a visit by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner to mediator Pakistan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi shuttled in and out of Islamabad twice during the weekend.
Since several senior Iranian political and military figures were killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes, Iran no longer has a single, undisputed clerical arbiter at the pinnacle of power, which may be hardening Tehran’s negotiating stance.
Trump’s approval rating fell to the lowest level of his current term, as Americans increasingly soured on his handling of the cost of living and the unpopular war, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll showed 34% of Americans approve of Trump’s performance, down from 36% in the prior survey.
In the latest sign of strains between Trump and European allies, he said in a social media post that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” regarding Iran.
Merz said on Monday that Iran’s leadership was humiliating the U.S. and that he did not see what exit strategy the Trump administration was pursuing.
But Britain’s King Charles told the U.S. Congress on Tuesday that despite uncertainty and conflict in Europe and the Middle East, the UK and the U.S., “whatever our differences,” will always be staunch allies united in defending democracy. He spoke at a time of deep divisions between the two longtime partners over the war with Iran.
Also read:Trump to feature on limited-edition US passports for America250 celebrations
