Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi meets Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in Islamabad, Pakistan, in this screengrab taken from a video released April 25, 2026. (REUTERS)
US President Donald Trump said Friday he was “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest proposal to end the war, casting doubt over a potential diplomatic breakthrough even as Tehran attempts to revive talks. “They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters at the White House, news agency Associated Press reported.
Trump did not elaborate on what he sees as the proposal’s shortcomings. He said negotiations have continued by phone after he called off his envoys’ planned trip to Pakistan last week, and described Iran’s leadership as divided.
“It’s a very disjointed leadership. They all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up.”
Iran sends fresh proposal via Pakistan
The remarks came after Tehran submitted a new proposal for negotiations with Washington, in a move seen as an attempt to break weeks of deadlock, Reuters reported. Iranian state media and a Pakistani official involved in mediation efforts said the proposal was delivered late Thursday and forwarded to the US, though details remain undisclosed, according to Reuters.The development comes amid a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 that has yet to translate into a broader de-escalation.
Hormuz crisis keeps markets on edge
The geopolitical backdrop remains volatile. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows — has severely disrupted energy markets, pushing prices above $100 a barrel. Oil prices eased slightly after news of the proposal, but markets remain jittery amid uncertainty over further escalation, Reuters said.
⚔️ Ceasefire: Apr 8🛢 Brent: ~$114/bbl🚢 20% world oil blocked📅 War Powers deadline: May 1
Brent Crude Peak$126per barrel — on briefing news
Brent Crude Now~$114per barrel — slipped back
World Supply Blocked20%oil & gas choked off
Ceasefire SinceApr 8But strait still blocked
USUSAPres. Donald Trump
IRIRANSup. Leader Khamenei
ILISRAELAllied with US
PKPAKISTANMediator
Current Situation — Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Conflict Timeline
~Mar 1, 2025Conflict BeginsUS-Israeli military operations against Iran begin. Iran launches drones and missiles at Israel and US bases in Gulf states. Hormuz blocked.
Apr 8, 2025Ceasefire AgreedUS-Iran ceasefire takes effect. Iran retains control of the strait — blocking all but its own shipping — citing ongoing US naval blockade of Iran's oil exports.
May 1, 2025War Powers Deadline ← NOWFormal US deadline to end the war or extend it under the 1973 War Powers Resolution. A senior official says hostilities are deemed terminated due to the ceasefire — likely to pass without formal congressional action.
TBDNegotiations / Escalation?Pakistan mediating. US weighing fresh strikes, extended blockade or coalition to reopen strait. Iran warns of retaliation for any new attack.
Stalemate: A ceasefire is in place since April 8 but Iran continues blocking the Strait of Hormuz in response to a US naval blockade of Iran's oil exports. The strait — through which 20% of global oil and gas flows — has been closed for ~two months. Brent crude hit $126/bbl on reports of a Trump military briefing before slipping to ~$114.
Brent Crude — price context ($USD/bbl)
Pre-conflict
~$75
Current (~$114)
~$114 ↑52%
Peak ($126)
$126 ↑68% 🔺
Pre-conflict baseline ~$75/bbl. Bars are proportional to $130 max.
Key Quotes — What Leaders Are Saying
Any new US attack on Iran, even if limited, would usher in long and painful strikes on US regional positions.
IRGC Senior OfficialIran's Revolutionary Guards
Foreigners who come from thousands of kilometres away have no place there except at the bottom of its waters.
Ayatollah Mojtaba KhameneiSupreme Leader, Iran — on Strait of Hormuz
Iran will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. The price of gasoline will drop like a rock as soon as the war ends.
Donald TrumpUS President
The longer this vital artery is choked, the harder it will be to reverse the damage.
António GuterresUN Secretary-General
Expecting to reach a result in a short time, regardless of who the mediator is, is not very realistic.
Esmaeil BaghaeiIran Foreign Ministry Spokesman
We've seen what happened to your regional bases — we will see the same thing happen to your warships.
Majid MousaviIRGC Aerospace Force Commander
What's at Stake — Global Impact
Energy20% of global oil & gas blocked
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Its two-month closure has sent Brent crude from ~$75 to $114/bbl — a 52% surge.
EconomyGlobal recession risk, millions at poverty line
The UN warns if the disruption drags past mid-year, global growth will fall, inflation will rise and tens of millions more people will be pushed into poverty.
US PoliticsGas prices — key issue for November midterms
Trump has repeatedly stressed that fuel prices will fall "like a rock" once the war ends — signalling domestic political urgency ahead of November midterm elections.
IranEconomy crippled but survives US blockade
The conflict has worsened Iran's dire economic situation. The US blockade has cut off oil export revenues — Iran's economic lifeline — but analysts say Tehran can hold out for now.
RegionLebanon ceasefire a key Iran condition
Iran says halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon — where a fragile ceasefire is in place — is part of the Iran-US ceasefire understanding and must remain a condition of any deal.
GulfUAE bans travel to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon
The UAE has banned its citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq and urged those currently there to leave immediately, citing escalating regional developments.
What Next — Options & Scenarios
Four scenarios on the table — Trump was briefed Thursday on military and diplomatic options to end the Hormuz impasse.
Option AFresh military strikes on Iran
A series of targeted strikes to compel Iran to negotiate. Iran has warned even a limited attack would trigger "long and painful" retaliation on US regional bases and warships.
Option BGround forces to seize part of strait
Axios reports a plan involving US ground forces taking over part of the Hormuz strait to reopen it to commercial shipping — a major escalation with unpredictable consequences.
Option CMaritime coalition to reopen strait
US State Dept has invited allies to join the 'Maritime Freedom Construct'. UK, France and others are willing to help — but only after the conflict formally ends.
Option DExtend blockade or declare victory
Trump is also weighing a unilateral US declaration of victory or extending the naval blockade of Iran's oil exports to force economic surrender. Pakistan continues mediation.
Air defence alert in Tehran: Air defence activity was heard in areas of Tehran Thursday evening, Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency reported, with drones and unmanned surveillance vehicles being engaged — adding to uncertainty around the ceasefire.
Sources: Reuters · Axios · IRNA · Mehr News Agency | Updated: 1 May 2025
US stance, war powers debate
Even as tensions persist, the Trump administration has argued that hostilities have effectively ended due to the ceasefire — a position that could allow it to bypass congressional approval under the War Powers Resolution, AP reported.A senior administration official said that, for the purposes of the law, “the hostilities that began on Saturday, Feb. 28 have terminated,” noting there has been no direct exchange of fire since early April, AP reported.
Military threats continue despite ceasefire
On the ground, both sides appear to be preparing for possible escalation. Iran has activated air defences and is bracing for a potential “short, intensive” US strike, possibly followed by Israeli action, according to Reuters. A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards official warned that any new US attack would trigger “long and painful strikes” on American positions in the region.
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Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi said, “We’ve seen what happened to your regional bases; we will see the same thing happen to your warships.”
Gulf concerns, maritime coalition in focus
The crisis has raised alarm among Gulf states. UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said freedom of navigation in the Strait must be guaranteed by international law, adding, “No unilateral Iranian arrangements can be trusted or relied upon following its treacherous aggression against all its neighbours.”
Meanwhile, Washington has floated plans for a maritime coalition — the “Maritime Freedom Construct” — to secure commercial shipping lanes. European allies, including France and Britain, have held discussions but indicated they would participate only after active hostilities end, Reuters reported.
Uncertain road ahead
Despite economic strain from US naval blockades and curtailed exports, Iran appears capable of sustaining a prolonged standoff. Washington is weighing options, including extending the blockade, launching limited strikes, or declaring a unilateral victory, Reuters said. With thousands killed — mainly in Iran and Lebanon — and global energy markets on edge, Tehran’s latest proposal offers a possible diplomatic opening. But with Trump publicly rejecting it for now, prospects for a quick resolution remain uncertain.
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