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 fast. We are all ready to act. We have to get the right answers,” declared the American president on Wednesday.

After the threats, it’s time for diplomacy. Iran announced on Wednesday, May 20, that it is considering a new American peace proposal through the Pakistani mediator. When asked about state television, the spokesman 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 release of frozen Iranian assets” abroad and the end of the American blockade of Iranian ports. Since the fragile ceasefire came into effect on April 8 after over a month of war, discussions are ongoing, with both countries sticking to their positions.

“We are in the final phase of negotiations,” the American president told journalists from Andrews Air Force Base (Maryland). “It’s on a tightrope, believe me,” he added. “If we don’t get the right answers, it can go very fast. We are all ready to act. We have to get the right answers.” On Tuesday, he had given Tehran “two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something like that, maybe the beginning of next week.”

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

From the Strait of Hormuz, blocked since the start of the war on February 28, 26 ships crossed the passage in 24 hours, as announced by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s navy on Wednesday. On the American side, the army reported having intercepted an Iranian-flagged tanker suspected of trying to violate the American blockade of ports. The vessel was searched and then changed course.