Trump ‘not satisfied’ with new peace proposal offered by Iran to US

Iran has conveyed a fresh proposal to the United States through Pakistan in the latest effort to de-escalate the ongoing war, but US President Donald Trump indicated that he was not satisfied with the offer. He suggested that the proposal included demands he could not accept, without providing further details.

Speaking in Washington, Trump also appeared to dismiss a deadline under the War Powers Act that would require him to seek congressional approval to continue hostilities beyond 60 days.

In a communication to congressional leaders, he reportedly argued that the ceasefire arrangement with Iran had effectively paused the timeline, a view that has been contested by several legal experts. He further implied that the Vietnam War-era law itself could be unconstitutional, The Guardian reported.

Iranian state media indicated that Tehran had handed over the proposal to Pakistan late Thursday for onward transmission to Washington, though specifics of the offer were not disclosed.

Initially, Pakistani officials viewed the move as a result of their active backchannel diplomacy, but their role has since shifted to facilitating urgent communication between the two sides after direct talks lost momentum.

Officials in Islamabad were said to believe that a deal remains possible, although they are navigating a situation where Iranian authorities may be pushing their position strongly while the US administration appears to be aiming for a decisive outcome rather than compromise.

Reports suggested that Iran’s decision to route proposals through Pakistan followed internal deliberations on whether to continue diplomatic engagement or rely instead on strategic pressure, including disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials were also believed to be factoring in Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in mid-May as a possible incentive for Washington to conclude the conflict.

Pakistan has described the continuation of a ceasefire, now lasting over three weeks, as a significant achievement, and both Tehran and Washington have acknowledged Islamabad’s role as the primary intermediary.

Despite a breakthrough in April that brought officials from Iran and the US together in Islamabad for high-level overnight talks, the most significant engagement since the Iranian Revolution, differences have persisted.

Key unresolved issues include a potential pause in Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and arrangements for handling its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Diplomatic sources suggested that a compromise could involve a temporary halt to enrichment for around a decade, bridging the gap between the positions of both sides.

Another option under discussion reportedly involves transferring the enriched uranium to Russia, an idea said to have been discussed between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At the same time, Iranian officials were said to be frustrated by what they viewed as inconsistencies in the US position, particularly after Trump indicated opposition to Iran enriching uranium even for medical purposes—something Tehran believed had earlier been conceded during negotiations.