Trump warns ‘clock is ticking’ for Iran as peace progress stalls

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry, maintained that their proposals were both “responsible” and “generous.” According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, their demands included an immediate end to the war on all fronts, which referred to the ongoing Israeli strikes against the Iran-supported Hezbollah in Lebanon, a stop to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and assurances of no further attacks on Iran. They also sought compensation for damages caused by the war and emphasized Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday that the US had outlined five conditions in response to Tehran’s proposal. These reportedly included a requirement for Iran to operate only one nuclear site and to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US. On Friday, Trump hinted that he might accept a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear program, which has been a key point of contention, indicating a possible shift away from demanding its complete termination. Israeli and US forces launched extensive air strikes on Iran on February 28. The ceasefire aimed at facilitating negotiations has mostly held, despite some exchanges of fire. Iran continues to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, effectively blocking this critical waterway through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas is transported.