Trump Rejects Iran’s Counteroffer as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Simmer
President Donald Trump flatly rejected Iran’s latest diplomatic counteroffer on Sunday, CNBC reported, calling the proposal “totally unacceptable” in a post on his Truth Social platform. The dismissal arrived as a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker navigated the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since the conflict began.
Iran’s Counteroffer Falls Short for Washington
Iran’s counteroffer reached U.S. negotiators via intermediaries in Pakistan. Tehran’s proposal called for a complete lifting of U.S. Treasury sanctions on Iranian oil exports within 30 days. It also demanded an end to the naval blockade restricting Iran’s ports.
Perhaps most provocatively, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency cited a source stating that Tehran sought management authority over the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on unspecified U.S. commitments. Iran also stopped short of agreeing to American demands on its nuclear program. Instead, it proposed parallel nuclear talks, with some enriched uranium diluted and the remainder transferred to a third country.
Background: A War That Rattled Global Energy Markets
The conflict began on February 28, when the U.S. and Israel launched military operations targeting Iran. The war rapidly disrupted Hormuz shipping, through which roughly 20% of global oil trade passes, triggering an acute global energy crisis. A ceasefire was declared roughly a month later, though sporadic clashes have continued to destabilize it. Kuwait reported hostile drones in its airspace early Sunday, underscoring the fragility of the truce.
Also Read: What the Strait of Hormuz Means for Global Oil Supply
A Symbolic Transit and Netanyahu’s Warning
The QatarEnergy-operated vessel Al Kharaitiyat passed through the strait Sunday, bound for Pakistan’s Port Qasim. Shipping analytics firm Kpler confirmed it was the first Qatari LNG carrier to make the crossing since hostilities started. Iran reportedly approved the transit to build confidence with Qatar and Pakistan, both of whom are acting as mediators.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced a hard line in a pre-recorded interview for CBS’s “60 Minutes.” He insisted the war was “not over,” pointing to remaining enriched uranium stockpiles, active enrichment facilities, Iranian proxy networks, and ballistic missile development.
Trump faces intensifying pressure to resolve the standoff before a scheduled visit to China later this week. The conflict has strained global supply chains and raised recession fears across energy-dependent economies. Despite Sunday’s symbolic tanker crossing, analysts warn that the fundamental gap between the two sides remains wide.
