Trump Rejects Iran's Peace Proposal as 'Totally Unacceptable', Escalates Regional Tensions

BBC World reported that Trump called the Iranian counteroffer to end the war 'unbelievably weak'.

The Hindu reported that Trump described Iran’s proposal as a 'piece of garbage'.

Al Jazeera reported that efforts between Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement continue to fall short, fueling concerns of return to war.

DW reported that the fragile ceasefire had been tested earlier in the day with strikes across the Gulf.

Guardian reported that Trump considered restarting naval escorts in the Strait of Hormuz to end the Iranian blockade.

Times of India reported that Iran's armed forces are prepared to retaliate after Trump rejected Tehran's ceasefire proposal.

NPR reported that Iran's response was positive and the ball was now in Washington's court.

Rferl reported that Iran rejected the latest US peace proposal on Sunday, prompting a swift dismissal from Donald Trump.

Euronews reported that the stalled diplomacy and recent exchanges of fire could tip the Middle East back into open warfare.

France24 reported that the exchange marks another setback in efforts to ease tensions in the Persian Gulf.

The stalled diplomacy and recent exchanges of fire could tip the Middle East back into open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict.

After rejecting Tehran's response to the US peace proposal, President Donald Trump warned that the ceasefire in the war with Iran was "on life support." Follow DW for the latest.

Iran's armed forces are prepared to retaliate after President Trump rejected Tehran's ceasefire proposal, escalating regional tensions. The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil route, has already caused significant energy supply shocks and threatens global food security, with the UN warning of a potential humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. President described Iran’s proposal as a “piece of garbage” which he was not going to waste time reading

The US president criticises an Iranian counteroffer to end the war, and says the month-long ceasefire is "unbelievably weak".

US president says he is considering restarting naval escorts in strait of Hormuz in attempt to end Iranian blockade Middle East crisis – live updates Donald Trump has said the ceasefire with Iran is on “life support” and that he is considering restarting US navy military escorts of ships through the strait of Hormuz in an attempt to end the Iranian blockade of the vital waterway. The US president dismissed Iran’s peace proposals as stupid, and denied he was under any domestic pressure to reach a deal. Continue reading...

Efforts between Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement continue to fall short, fueling concerns of return to war.

On Sunday, Tehran sent a response to an earlier US proposal to end the war through mediator Pakistan.

President’s remarks came as Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was ‘not over’. Plus, American passengers of the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship travel to Nebraska Good morning. Donald Trump has condemned an Iranian response to a US peace proposal as “totally unacceptable” as the month-old ceasefire appeared to be wearing thin. What is the US position on Iranian nuclear facilities? 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), and the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities. What is the sticking point? According to the Wall Street Journal, the Iranian counter-proposal suggested a shorter moratorium, the export of part of the highly enriched uranium stockpile and the dilution of the rest, and refusal to accept the dismantling of facilities. How have markets reacted? After Trump rejected the counter-proposal on his Truth Social platform, there was a 4% jump in Brent crude on Monday to $105.50 a barrel, before it settled at $103.50. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. What measures are being taken to control the spread? As well as one who tested positive, another passenger has mild symptoms of hantavirus, the US health and human services department confirmed. These passengers were travelling in the plane’s biocontainment units, it added. Is the World Health Organization mandating a quarantine? No – it has recommended, but not mandated, a 42-day quarantine once passengers have landed in their home countries. As some countries enforce stricter rules than others, here is how the responses vary. Continue reading...

Trump rejected Iran's response to a U.S. peace proposal, calling it "totally unacceptable." And, Congressional Republicans are trying to push for three years of funding for immigration enforcement.

Iran on Monday asserted that it made “legitimate” demands in its latest formal response to the United States’ peace proposal, after US President Donald Trump rejected the reply as “totally unacceptable”. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had called for an end to the war across the region, the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports, and the release of frozen assets abroad in its response. “We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights,” said Baghaei in a weekly press briefing. He said Iran’s demands included “an end to the war in the region”, lifting the US blockade and “piracy”, and the “release of assets belonging to the Iranian people, which have for years been unjustly trapped in foreign banks”. “Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon were other demands of Iran, which are considered a generous and responsible offer for regional security.” Baqaei said Washington continued to uphold “unreasonable” and one-sided demands. According to remarks reported by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the Iranian official cautioned that any intervention in the affairs of the Strait of Hormuz will further “complicate” the matter, stressing that the issue was the “aggressive actions” of the US and Israel. “We have conveyed this very clearly to European countries that they should not allow the temptations of the United States and the Zionist regime in regional issues to cause them to be unintentionally drawn into a crisis that will not benefit them,” Iran’s semi-official outlet ISNA quoted Baqaei as saying. The Iranian official, according to ISNA, affirmed that Pakistan remained the mediator in US-Iran negotiations. “The mediator in the negotiations is still Pakistan, and Islamabad will continue its activities in this regard as an official mediator. Other countries, including Qatar, also have relations with both sides and have ideas and opinions that they will present whenever they deem necessary,” he said. Baqaei further said, “The very presence of the US in the region is an example of creating a cycle of violence and bullying in the region.” He emphasised that “regional security must be ensured by the countries of the region by strengthening collective trust” between them. “Recent events have shown that security that relies on the presence of foreign forces in the region will only exacerbate insecurity and will not bring stability to our region,” he highlighted. ‘Totally unacceptable’ Iran’s defence of its response, conveyed through Pakistan on Sunday, came hours after Trump rejected it. “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it TOTALLY UNACCEP­TABLE,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, without providing details of the response. Trump’s swift rejection of Iran’s response sent oil prices surging on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralysed. Days after the US floated an offer in the hopes of reopening negotiations, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, where Israel continues its bombardment despite a ceasefire. Tehran also included a demand for compensation for war damage and emphasised Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state TV said. According to Iranian officials, Tehran proposed that the current phase of negotiations may focus primarily on ending hostilities in the region, while more contentious matters, including sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, could be addressed at later stages. Another Iranian source said that Tehran’s response was positive and the ball was now in Washington’s court. He hoped that the reply could pave the way for the resumption of dialogue in the coming days. The official said that the response is backed by political consensus within Iran.

Iran says it will not give in to Trump's demands as Trump calls Iran's response "totally unacceptable."

• Iran conveyed response via Pakistani mediators • Officials say Tehran wants to focus on ending hostilities, leaving ‘contentious’ matters like sanctions relief, N-issues for later • Pezeshkian says dialogue ‘does not mean surrender or retreat’; Khamenei meets military commander • After Washington meetings, Qatari PM discusses diplomatic efforts with PM Shehbaz WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s formal response to the latest US proposal, conveyed through Pakistani mediators, aimed at ending the ongoing Gulf conflict, as diplomatic efforts become increasingly strained amid continued military preparations and repeated ceasefire violations across the region. “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it TOTALLY UNACCEP­TABLE,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, without providing details of the response. Iranian state media, however, mentioned the response focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, and on the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier at a ceremony in Islamabad, held to mark the one-year anniversary of Pakistan’s victory over India, said he had been told by Field Marshal Asim Munir that “we have received Iran’s response”. “I cannot go into more detail. I commend the efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and congratulate Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has dedicated himself [to this cause],” he added. Reuters quoted a Pakistani government official involved in the talks as saying that Islamabad sent Iran’s response to the US proposal soon after receiving it. Also, Iranian state media reported Tehran’s reply to the American draft was handed over to Pakistani intermediaries after the completion of internal consultations and final review by the Iranian leadership. “The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the latest proposed text by the US for the end of the war was sent today to the Pakistani mediator,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by official media. According to Iranian officials, Tehran proposed that the current phase of negotiations may focus primarily on ending hostilities in the region, while more contentious matters, including sanctions relief and the nuclear issue, could be addressed at later stages. Another Iranian source said that Tehran’s response was positive and the ball was now in Washington’s court. He hoped that the reply could pave way for resumption of dialogue in coming days. The official said that the response is backed by political consensus within Iran. Distrust of the US, meanwhile remains deeply entrenched in Iranian psyche. Iran’s envoy to Beijing in a post on X said that any potential agreement “must necessarily” be guaranteed by China and Russia as influential powers, besides its validation by United Nations Security Council. In a post on X hours after the response was conveyed, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote that negotiation does not mean surrender or retreat. “We will never bow our heads before the enemy, and if talk of dialogue or negotiation arises, it does not mean surrender or retreat. Rather, the goal is to uphold the rights of the Iranian nation and to defend national interests with resolute strength,” he wrote on X. Military commander meets Khamenei The diplomatic move came hours after Major General Ali Abdullahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and briefed him on the preparedness of the country’s armed forces. Iranian media reported that Gen Abdullahi presented an assessment of the combat readiness of the army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, law enforcement units, border forces, the Defence Ministry and the Basij force. The commander said Iranian forces remained fully prepared “in terms of combat morale, defensive and offensive readiness, strategic plans and equipment” to confront what he described as “American-Zionist enemies”. He warned that any “strategic error or aggression” by the United States or Israel would be met “quickly, intensely and powerfully”. According to the Iranian account, Ayatollah Khamenei praised the armed forces and ordered new measures to continue confronting adversaries forcefully, building on previous wartime directives during what Iranian officials have termed the “Third Imposed War”. The latest diplomatic exchanges took place amid persistent tensions despite a fragile ceasefire that has repeatedly come under pressure, particularly in the Gulf waters and on the Lebanon front. Diplomatic contacts intensify Over the weekend, US officials held consultations with Qatari leaders before Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani telephoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday, the two leaders reviewed the evolving regional situation and ongoing peace efforts. PM Shehbaz appreciated Qatar’s “continued and steadfast support” for Pakistan’s peace initiatives, while both sides underlined the importance of constructive engagement to ensure success of diplomatic efforts. Qatar recently stepped up its role as a complementary mediator to that of Pakistan-led ‘quartet’ comprising Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye, which launched the broader Islamabad process. This development also aligns with a broader regional dynamic, wherein alongside Oman, Qatar has long served as one of Tehran’s preferred interlocutors in the Persian Gulf for sensitive issues. In this context, Tehran’s decision to permit the passage of a Qatari LNG tanker through the Strait of Hormuz, with the shipment destined for Pakistan, carries a symbolic message serving as a quiet signal of goodwill that simultaneously benefits Pakistan, reinforces Qatar’s bridging role, and underscores the interconnected nature of the current diplomatic efforts. With input from Syed Irfan Raza in Islamabad and Anwar Iqbal in Washington Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2026

Donald Trump received the Iranian proposal on May 10 amid hopes that it could lead to a breakthrough to end the war

Iran rejected the latest US peace proposal on Sunday, prompting a swift dismissal from Donald Trump, who called the response “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” on social media. The exchange marks another setback in efforts to ease tensions in the Persian Gulf, where disrupted shipping and rising energy prices continue to fuel global concern.

Iran delivered its response to Pakistani mediators on Sunday, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

US President Donald Trump angrily rejected Tehran’s response to a US peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable,” while Iranian state media listed what appeared to be no easing of the Islamic republic’s demands, including compensation for war damages and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The US president says he has read the response from the so-called "Representatives" of Iran

Iran sent its response to the latest US ceasefire proposal via Pakistani mediators and wants negotiations to focus on permanently ending the war, but President Donald Trump quickly rejected it as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” with no details. Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, and to ensure the security of shipping, state television said. Washington’s latest proposal addressed a deal to end the war,...

Iran seeks to end the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, where Israel is fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group, and to ensure the security of shipping, state TV said

Iran has responded to a US ceasefire proposal through Pakistani mediators, seeking a permanent end to regional conflicts and guarantees for maritime security. President Trump rejected Tehran's position, calling it "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" amid rising tensions and drone incidents in the Gulf.

Donald Trump called Iran's peace plan "totally unacceptable." The fragile ceasefire had been tested earlier in the day with strikes across the Gulf. DW has more