Trump on Iran’s new proposal: ‘I’m not happy with it’

US President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with Tehran’s latest proposal for an agreement aimed at ending the war.

“They want to make a deal, but I’m not happy with it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House, when asked about the offer Washington had received.

The US President noted that the Iranian side “has taken certain steps forward,” but expressed doubt about the ultimate success of the process.

“I’m not sure they’ll ever get there,” Trump added, reiterating that Iran’s leadership was acting in “disunity.”

During a conversation with reporters at the White House, Trump said that at the moment there are only two options for the development of events: “Either a deal, or we will smash them to smithereens.”

Let us remind you that the US administration commented on the information about the new proposal received from the Iranian side. The White House statement emphasized: “We are not disclosing details of diplomatic discussions. Negotiations are ongoing.”

The White House also added: “President Trump has made it clear to the public that Iran will never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.”

Earlier, Iran, through Pakistani mediators, sent a revised proposal for negotiations to the United States, IRNA reported on Friday, May 1.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said Tehran was seeking lasting peace in talks with Washington, despite statements from senior clerics and lawmakers that talks on the nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz were no longer ongoing.

The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, reports that Iran’s new proposal demonstrates a certain flexibility: Tehran is ready to abandon the demand to lift the naval blockade as a precondition for starting negotiations.

According to the publication, Iran took a step towards the United States, proposing to discuss the conditions for opening the Strait of Hormuz simultaneously with receiving American guarantees of stopping attacks and lifting the blockade on Iranian ports. The proposal also includes a willingness to discuss nuclear issues in exchange for sanctions relief.

At the same time, sources note that the positions of the parties are still far from each other on such key issues as the mechanism for opening the Strait of Hormuz and the parameters of the nuclear agreement.

Iran is reported to have signaled to the mediators its readiness to send a delegation to talks in Pakistan next week if Washington shows interest in discussing new initiatives.