Iran has stated that the United States must now decide whether to pursue diplomacy or return to open conflict, adding that Tehran is prepared for either scenario.
“Now the ball is in the United States’ court to choose the path of diplomacy or the continuation of a confrontational approach,” deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi told diplomats in Tehran, according to state broadcaster IRIB, reports RTE.
“Iran, with the aim of securing its national interests and security, is prepared for both paths,” he said.
Earlier today, a senior Iranian military official warned that renewed conflict between the US and Iran was “likely”, just hours after US President Donald Trump said he was “not satisfied” with a fresh Iranian proposal, reports RTE.
Iran submitted the draft proposal to mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening, though state media did not disclose its details.
The conflict, initiated by the US and Israel in late February, has been paused since 8 April, following one unsuccessful round of peace negotiations held in Pakistan, reports RTE.
“At this moment I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” Mr Trump told reporters yesterday, attributing stalled negotiations to “tremendous discord” within Iran’s leadership.
“Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever – or do we want to try and make a deal?” he added, saying he would “prefer not” to take the first option “on a human basis”, reports RTE.
This morning, senior Iranian military commander Mohammad Jafar Asadi said “a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely”, according to remarks published by Iran’s Fars news agency.
“Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements,” he added, reports RTE.
Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said yesterday that the country had “never shied away from negotiations,” but stressed it would not accept an “imposition” of peace terms.
The White House has not released details of Iran’s latest proposal, although Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff submitted revisions that would bring Iran’s nuclear programme back into negotiations, reports RTE.
The proposed changes reportedly include conditions preventing Iran from moving enriched uranium from bombed sites or resuming activity there during talks.
News of the proposal briefly caused oil prices to drop by nearly 5%, though they remain roughly 50% higher than pre-war levels amid the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reports RTE.
Iran has effectively controlled the strait since the conflict began, restricting major global flows of oil, gas, and fertiliser, while the US has responded with a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
Mr Trump says US Navy acting like ‘pirates’ during Iran blockade
Mr Trump said yesterday that the US Navy was acting “like pirates” as he described the seizure of a vessel as part of the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports.
“We… land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It’s a very profitable business,” Mr Trump said at a rally in Florida, reports RTE.
“We’re like pirates,” he added to applause. “We’re sort of like pirates. But we’re not playing games.”
Mr Trump’s remarks come as legal experts raise concerns over Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and its reported plans to charge ships a fee for passage.
Tehran effectively shut the key shipping route following the US-Israeli air campaign launched on 28 February, reports RTE.
The US introduced its own blockade of Iranian ports last month after peace talks in Pakistan failed to produce a breakthrough.
US Central Command said it had redirected 45 vessels to enforce compliance with the blockade as of yesterday, reports RTE.
Meanwhile, the US confirmed it had approved significant arms deals with regional allies, including a $4bn Patriot missile system agreement with Qatar and nearly $1bn in precision weapons for Israel.
In Washington, lawmakers are engaged in a legal debate over whether Mr Trump exceeded a deadline to seek congressional approval for the conflict, reports RTE.
Administration officials argue that the ceasefire pauses a 60-day limit requiring congressional authorisation, a position disputed by opposition Democrats.
Mr Trump is also facing increasing domestic pressure amid rising inflation, no clear resolution to the conflict, and approaching midterm elections, reports RTE.
“There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Mr Trump said in letters to congressional leaders, adding that the hostilities “have terminated”.
In Iran, the economic impact of the war is worsening.
The US has imposed fresh sanctions on three Iranian currency firms and warned others against paying a “toll” for safe passage through Hormuz, as demanded by Iran, reports RTE.
The US military claims its blockade has halted $6 billion in Iranian oil exports, while inflation in Iran has surged beyond 50%.
“For many people, paying rent and even buying food has become difficult, and some have nothing left at all,” 28-year-old Iranian Mahyar told an AFP reporter based outside the country, reports RTE.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said that “the owners of damaged businesses should avoid, as much as possible, layoffs and separation of their workforce”.
He also warned of “economic and cultural jihad” against Iran’s adversaries, reports RTE.
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