US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end the ongoing conflict because Tehran wanted sanctions relief and other concessions before negotiations on its nuclear programme.“They were asking for everything up front,” Waltz told CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. He said Iran was seeking relief from “billions and billions” of dollars in sanctions before agreeing to negotiate an end to its nuclear programme.Waltz said Trump was not convinced that Iran was negotiating in good faith. He also argued that Tehran’s proposal was unacceptable because it sought major concessions before substantive talks could begin.Trump on Saturday confirmed that he had rejected the Iranian proposal. According to Politico, the plan called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a resumption of nuclear talks in return for the US lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports, easing sanctions on Iranian oil sales and agreeing to a seven-day ceasefire.“They want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they’re losing so badly,” Trump told reporters. He also claimed that the US was “winning tremendously” and had “total control” of the Strait of Hormuz.Iran has disputed the US account. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran remained open to diplomacy but insisted that any reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would depend on Tehran meeting its conditions.Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Araghchi said Iran was prepared to resume fighting if necessary but had not abandoned the possibility of negotiations.“We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed,” he said, while adding that Iran remained ready for diplomacy.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said his country was prepared to hold talks over its nuclear programme and other issues, but would not accept what he described as “bullying or coercion”.The dispute comes amid tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route, and continued US-Iran military hostilities.Waltz also rejected reports that Trump had decided to resume bombing Iran after the November midterm elections, saying the president had not personally made such a commitment and would keep his options open.
