Trump expects another round of US-Iran talks after rejecting Tehran's peace proposal

Donald Trump said the US expects fresh talks with Iran this week despite rejecting Tehran's proposal on Hormuz and a ceasefire. Qatar and other mediators are still shuttling messages as both sides remain split over sanctions, nuclear concessions and the regional conflict.

In Short

• Trump expects more talks with Iran this week despite rejecting their proposal
• Iran demands lifting of sanctions and naval blockade for reopening Hormuz
• US doubts Iran's sincerity, wants nuclear concessions before easing sanctions

A day after rejecting Iran's proposal to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects American negotiators to hold another round of talks with Tehran this week. This comes as Qatar and other regional mediators stepped up efforts to bridge the widening differences between Washington and Tehran.

The comments suggest that Trump's rejection of the Iranian offer has not closed the door on diplomacy. Qatar and other regional mediators are continuing to shuttle messages between Washington and Tehran as the two sides remain divided over how the conflict should end and what should happen to the strategically vital waterway.

Iran's proposal called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened and nuclear negotiations to resume within seven days. In return, Tehran sought the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, relief from sanctions on its oil sales and a ceasefire across the region.

Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday.

But in a phone interview with Axios on Sunday, he indicated that further discussions were still expected.

"I expect more talks with Iran (this week). They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make. It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand," Trump said.

Asked whether he was considering another round of US strikes against Iran, Trump said: "I am always thinking about it."

QATAR TRIES TO BRIDGE THE GAP

The diplomatic effort is being driven in part by Qatar, which has been acting as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York last Tuesday. Qatari officials participated by passing messages between the two sides.

During those discussions, Araghchi presented Iran's conditions for reopening the strait and restarting talks over its nuclear programme.

According to the proposal, Iran would reopen the waterway and resume nuclear negotiations within a week if Washington lifted its naval blockade, removed sanctions affecting Iranian oil sales and reinstated a regional ceasefire.

Trump's rejection, therefore, did not necessarily end the diplomatic channel. Regional mediators have continued discussing possible changes to the proposal with both sides.

Qatar's prime minister also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York on Thursday. Senior Qatari officials subsequently met Witkoff and briefed him on the discussions. Regional mediators have since been moving between Iranian and US negotiators with possible changes to the text.

Another round of indirect talks could take place as early as Monday.

The key question is whether the mediators can narrow the differences between the two governments.

IRAN SAYS DIPLOMACY IS STILL POSSIBLE

Tehran has signalled that Trump's rejection has not ended its willingness to negotiate. Araghchi said Sunday that Iran still wanted a diplomatic solution and was waiting for the US response to be formally conveyed through the mediators.

"Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met," Araghchi said in a social media post. "Only a negotiated solution can get them out of this deadlock."

He added that Iran was still waiting for the mediators to communicate Washington's definitive position.

"We are waiting for the mediators to convey the definitive views to us, and we will make a decision based on them," he said.

Speaking to NBC, Araghchi also said Iran was ready for negotiations and that the country's calculations were based on national interests rather than US domestic politics.

"We only care about our national interests. We are ready for negotiations," he said.

WHAT DOES WASHINGTON WANT FROM IRAN?

Washington's position is broader. US officials have demanded concessions on Iran's nuclear programme and have expressed doubts about whether Tehran would follow through on commitments.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Iran's proposal was rejected because Tehran was asking for sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets before making the concessions Washington wants.

"So the bottom line is they were asking for everything up front with a promise that they would then talk," Waltz said. "The president's just not confident that the Iranians are coming in good faith and that they will truly negotiate the end of their nuclear programme."

WAR SPREADS ACROSS THE REGION

The diplomatic push is taking place as the conflict continues to affect countries far beyond Iran and the United States.

The war began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and has since moved through periods of intense fighting and temporary pauses. Iran and its allies have responded with attacks against US-linked targets and regional partners.

Saudi Arabia has become increasingly exposed to the conflict as fighting involving Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen has intensified.

Houthi attacks have targeted Saudi interests and shipping routes around the Red Sea. The escalation has also affected everyday life inside Saudi Arabia, with schools in Riyadh shifting to remote learning for a week after parents received notices from schools. The notices did not publicly state a reason for the move.

The wider conflict has also caused civilian displacement in Yemen, while attacks around the Red Sea have added another threat to global energy and shipping routes.

- Ends
With inputs from agencies