Iran considers new US peace proposal, Donald Trump says it’s about "the last phase of negotiations"

After the threats, it’s time for diplomacy. Iran announced on Wednesday May 20 that it was examining a new American peace proposal via the Pakistani mediator. Questioned on state television, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaïl Baghaï, however said “great distrust” towards the United States.

He reiterated in passing the demands of the Islamic Republic: “The unfreezing of blocked Iranian assets” abroad and the end of the American blockade of Iranian ports. Since the entry into force of a fragile truce on April 8 after more than a month of war, discussions have stalled, with the two countries sticking to their positions.

“We are in the last phase of negotiations”the American president told journalists from the Andrews military base (Maryland). “It’s on the line, believe mehe added. If we don’t get the right answers, it can go very quickly. We are all ready to act. You have to get the right answers.” On Tuesday, he said he would give Tehran “two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something like that, maybe early next week”.

Cet ultimatum a été balayé par Téhéran. “Iran will never give in to intimidation” and must “strengthen its preparations in order to provide a strong response to any new attack”warned Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

On the side of the Strait of Hormuz, blocked since the start of the war on February 28, 26 ships crossed the passage in 24 hours, the Revolutionary Guards navy announced on Wednesday. For its part, the American army declared having boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker, suspected of having attempted to violate the American blockade of ports. The ship was searched and then changed course.