Live updates: Trump says he’s dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal – CNN

Diplomatic efforts continue as both sides communicate. Following the delivery of an updated peace proposal from Tehran to Washington via Pakistan, President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he is not satisfied with the offer. The president warned that if negotiations fail, he would blast them away.

This rejection comes as a ceasefire, in place since April 8, continues into its third week. The pause followed a series of hostilities that began on February 28 with a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran. While the lack of direct fire has persisted, the current deadlock remains as both parties seek a resolution to the conflict.

The Islamabad deadlock and the Pakistani channel

Diplomatic efforts have centered on Pakistan, which has served as the primary mediation channel. On Thursday, an Iranian diplomatic source told Al Jazeera that Tehran submitted a new proposal to Pakistani mediators. Pakistani officials subsequently confirmed to MS NOW that this proposal was forwarded to the United States.

Despite these efforts, negotiations have not yet produced a framework for agreement. Previous negotiations in Islamabad, which began on April 11 and lasted more than 21 hours, failed to establish even a basic framework for further discussion. The contents of the most recent proposal remain undisclosed, but the White House has made its position clear.

“They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Donald Trump, U.S. President

The president further asserted that Iran wants to make a deal because they have no military left, while maintaining that the Iranians are asking for things I can’t agree to. From the Iranian perspective, the barrier is the nature of U.S. diplomacy. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran remains open to diplomacy provided Washington alters its threatening rhetoric and expansionist approach.

Energy bottlenecks and the Strait of Hormuz

The geopolitical friction has immediate consequences for global energy markets. Central to the conflict is the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint through which 20 percent of the world’s shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas usually flow. Tehran has refused to reopen the strait unless the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

Global markets have monitored the diplomatic process. Following the news that Iran had sent an updated proposal, oil prices saw a marginal decline on Friday. CNBC reported that U.S. crude oil futures fell 3% to close at $101.94 per barrel, while the international benchmark Brent lost nearly 2% to settle at $108.17.

The economic stakes are compounded by the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, imposed on April 13 to pressure Tehran into accepting Washington’s terms. While Sultan Barakat, a senior professor in public policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, noted that Iran’s decision not to attack U.S. warships in the blockade underscores a desire for a deal, the blockade remains a primary point of contention.

The War Powers Resolution and the 60-day clock

Behind the public rhetoric lies a significant legal tension regarding the U.S. president’s authority to wage war. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president must withdraw troops within 60 days of notifying Congress of their deployment unless lawmakers authorize the action. President Trump formally notified Congress on March 2, setting a May 1 deadline.

To avoid seeking Congressional approval, the Trump administration is arguing that the 60-day clock no longer applies. An administration official told MS NOW that because a ceasefire was agreed to on April 7, the hostilities that began on February 28 have terminated.

This legal interpretation was first raised by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a House Armed Services Committee hearing. By framing the ceasefire as a termination of hostilities, the White House seeks to maintain its military posture without a formal mandate from Congress, which has not authorized the military action.

Escalation triggers and the risk of return to war

The current status of the conflict remains uncertain. While the administration argues the war has terminated for legal purposes, military preparations continue. Reports indicate that U.S. Central Command has prepared a plan for a short and powerful wave of strikes on Iran, intended to break the diplomatic stalemate.

Iran has countered with its own threats. According to Reuters, citing Iranian media, a senior official from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened long and painful strikes on U.S. positions if Washington renewed its attacks. Tehran has repeatedly warned it is prepared for the war to resume, specifically targeting U.S. interests in the region and energy infrastructure.

As Sultan Barakat told Al Jazeera, both nations are desperate to end the conflict, but the primary obstacle is the need to save face. The gap between the current blockade and a permanent peace treaty remains a significant point of disagreement between the two governments.