US President Donald Trump said he was “not happy” with the new Iranian offer Tehran has given to Pakistan, which is mediating talks with the United States.
“They want to make a deal, but I’m not happy with it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House, hours after Iranian media reported that the Islamic republic had handed Islamabad the text of its latest peace plan on 30 April.
The president added that Tehran was seeking a peace deal “because they have no military left” following the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which began on 28 February and was suspended after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on 8 April.
“They have a huge problem explaining themselves to each other in Iran. The leadership is very fragmented … They all want to make a deal, but they’re all confused,” Trump said.
While Iran’s foreign ministry appears to be continuing diplomatic efforts to negotiate with Washington on key issues in the conflict, radicalised clerics and lawmakers have publicly opposed any significant concessions.
According to The Guardian, the plan is believed to focus on ending hostilities and opening the Strait of Hormuz, while postponing detailed talks on Iran’s nuclear programme to a later stage.
Donald Trump rejected an earlier Iranian proposal that called for a cessation of hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tying it to nuclear talks. Iranian officials later said they would submit a revised text.
Earlier this week, Trump urged Tehran to “act wisely as soon as possible” and sign the agreement. US officials have said military options will remain on the table if no agreement is reached, while Israel has also signalled it would support renewed strikes if Iran’s nuclear programme continues unchecked.