Middle East crisis live: Trump rejects Iran response to US peace proposal as Tehran warns of new attacks
TL;DR
Trump has rejected Iran's response to the US peace proposal, which included a long-term moratorium on nuclear enrichment. Iran's counter-proposal suggests a shorter moratorium and refuses to dismantle its nuclear facilities.
Key points
- Trump rejects Iran's response to US peace proposal
- US proposal includes 20-year moratorium on nuclear enrichment
- Iran's counter-proposal suggests shorter moratorium
- Netanyahu warns war will continue due to Iran's HEU stockpile
- Trump expresses desire to enter Iran to secure fissile material
Mentioned in this story
The US parameters for nuclear talks reportedly included a moratorium on Iranian nuclear enrichment for up to 20 years; the transfer overseas, possibly to the US, of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which could be used to make nuclear warheads; and the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranian counter-proposal suggested a shorter moratorium, the export of part of the HEU stockpile and the dilution of the rest, and refusal to accept the dismantling of facilities.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had earlier warned the war would continue as long as Iran had a stockpile of HEU.
“It’s not over, because there’s still nuclear material – enriched uranium – that has to be taken out of Iran. There’s still enrichment sites that have to be dismantled,” he told the CBS programme 60 Minutes, according an excerpt published before its broadcast.
Asked how the HEU should be removed, Netanyahu said: “You go in and you take it out,” adding that the best way would be to enter Iran to secure the fissile material as part of an agreement. He said Donald Trump had told him he wants “to go in there”.
In a separate interview, Trump appeared to take a more relaxed view of the HEU stockpile, which the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, says is buried deep under mountains in central Iran. The US president suggested that for the time being, satellite surveillance was sufficient to guarantee no one had access to it.
We are restarting our live coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran after Donald Trump described Tehran’s response to Washington’s peace proposal as “totally unacceptable”, raising the possibility of fresh conflict.
Iran warned it would not hold back from retaliating against any new US strikes or permit more foreign warships in the strait of Hormuz.
A ceasefire meant to facilitate peace talks came into effect in Apri. It has been largely observed, despite exchanges of fire and reports of strikes in the strategic strait of Hormuz, which Iran has continued to effectively block in response to being attacked by the US and Israel in February.
The US military in turn has blockaded Iranian ports since 13 April, claiming it has turned back 61 commercial vessels and disabled four.
According to Iranian state media, Tehran’s proposal included demands that the US lift its sanctions, end its naval blockade and called for an immediate end to the war with guarantees against any renewed attack on the country.
Iranians walk past an anti-US and anti-Israel mural painted on a wall in Tehran on Sunday. Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘representatives’. I don’t like it – totally unacceptable.”
The US had presented a peace proposal a week ago, which, as my colleague Julian Borger notes here, was reported to consist of a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding that would reopen the strait while setting a framework for further talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Trump told US outlet Axios he’d discussed the Iranian response in a phone call with his close ally, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “It was a very nice call. We have a good relationship,” he said, before stressing that the Iran negotiations are “my situation, not everybody else’s.”
Netanyahu warned the war would continue as long as Iran had a stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which could be used to make nuclear warheads.
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Q&A
What are the key points of the US peace proposal to Iran?
The US proposal includes a 20-year moratorium on nuclear enrichment, transferring Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium overseas, and dismantling Iranian nuclear facilities.
How did Iran respond to the US peace proposal?
Iran's counter-proposal suggests a shorter moratorium on enrichment, partial export of its HEU stockpile, and refusal to dismantle its nuclear facilities.
What did Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu say about Iran's nuclear stockpile?
Netanyahu warned that the conflict would continue as long as Iran possesses highly enriched uranium and emphasized the need to remove it from Iran.
What did Trump reportedly express about entering Iran?
Trump indicated to Netanyahu that he wants to enter Iran to secure the fissile material as part of a potential agreement.
