Iran examines a new American peace proposal, Donald Trump says it is the final phase of negotiations

“If we don’t get the right answers, it can go very quickly. We are all ready to act. We need to get the right answers,” declared the American president on Wednesday.

Following the threats, it’s time for diplomacy. Iran announced on Wednesday, May 20, that it is examining a new American peace proposal through the Pakistani mediator. When asked on state television, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esma’il Baghaei, expressed “great mistrust” towards the United States.

He reiterated the demands of the Islamic Republic: “The unfreezing of blocked Iranian assets” abroad and the end of the American blockade of Iranian ports. Since a fragile ceasefire took effect on April 8 after over a month of war, discussions are ongoing but both countries remain steadfast in their positions.

“We are in the final phase of negotiations,” stated the American president to reporters from Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland). “It’s on the edge, believe me,” he added. “If we don’t get the right answers, it can go very quickly. We are all ready to act. We need to get the right answers.” On Tuesday, he mentioned giving Tehran “two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something like that, maybe at the beginning of next week.”

This ultimatum was dismissed by Tehran. “Iran will never succumb to intimidation” and must “strengthen its preparations to deliver a strong response to any new attack,” warned Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, blocked since the beginning of the war on February 28, the Revolutionary Guards’ Navy announced on Wednesday that 26 ships had passed through in a span of 24 hours. On the American side, the military reported intercepting a tanker flying the Iranian flag, suspected of attempting to violate the American blockade of ports. The ship was searched and then changed course.