Day 64 of Iran War: Trump Rejects Tehran’s New Peace Proposal
Elizabeth Melimopoulos
US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal, saying it contained demands he could not accept, and warned against a premature end to the conflict. Washington also threatened sanctions on ships paying fees to Iran for transit through the Strait of Hormuz. A new poll showed 61% of Americans consider Trump’s use of force against Iran a mistake.
Day 64 of the US-Israel-Iran war saw fresh developments on both diplomatic and military fronts, as US President Donald Trump expressed displeasure with Tehran’s latest peace proposal.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the Iranian proposal contained points he 'cannot agree to' and warned against ending the conflict too soon, fearing tensions could re-emerge 'in three years.' Iran had submitted the proposal through Pakistani mediators, according to the IRNA news agency.
Simultaneously, Washington warned it would impose sanctions on ships paying fees or charges to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a tougher stance on maritime activities linked to Tehran.
A new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found 61% of Americans believe President Trump’s use of force against Iran was a mistake.
Developments in Iran
Iran’s Defense Ministry confirmed 14 soldiers were killed on Friday during unexploded ordnance clearance operations in Zanjan Province, in the country’s northwest.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called on the public to wage an 'economic war' and 'disappoint' the enemy, as the war with the US and Israel, combined with years of sanctions, has inflicted severe damage.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy announced it would apply 'new rules' to waters near Iran’s coast, aiming to turn them into a 'source of security and prosperity' for the region.
War Diplomacy
The US State Department imposed new measures on entities linked to Iran’s oil exports, including the Qingdao Hailong Oil Port (China), accusing the facility of importing millions of barrels of sanctioned crude, funneling billions of dollars to Tehran. China rejected the move as illegal 'unilateral sanctions.'
The State Department also approved more than $8.6 billion in arms sales to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Developments in the US
President Trump told top lawmakers that hostilities with Iran had ended, after pressure from Congress to seek authorization for the conflict as it entered its third month.
The US Treasury imposed fresh sanctions on three Iranian foreign exchange companies aimed at disrupting Tehran’s 'financial channels.'
The USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier departed the Middle East after taking part in anti-Iran operations, according to a US official. Two other carriers—USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George HW Bush—are among 20 US warships still in the region.
Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said US military capability 'has not changed' as Washington reverts to a normal two-carrier group deployment. 'The Ford carrier group left the US last June, and its deployment was extended twice. The crew and ship are exhausted, so the US is bringing it home,' he added.
Developments in Lebanon
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health confirmed 12 people killed on Friday in Israeli strikes on the country’s south, including a town where the Israeli military had ordered forced evacuations. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of exploiting a ceasefire to intensify attacks.
