Washington, May 11, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has sharply rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, calling Tehran’s response “totally unacceptable” amid rising tensions across the Middle East.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, Tehran’s proposal — reportedly delivered through Pakistani mediation — called for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts, an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and guarantees against future attacks on Iran. The proposal also demanded compensation for war-related damages and reaffirmed Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump reacted angrily on his Truth Social platform, saying: “I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called ‘Representatives.’ I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.”
The remarks come despite a fragile ceasefire, introduced last month to facilitate negotiations, largely holding with only sporadic exchanges of fire.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the war could not truly end until Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was dismantled. Speaking to CBS’s 60 Minutes, Netanyahu said Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium “must be taken out” and stressed that enrichment facilities still needed to be dismantled.
Reports by US outlet Axios suggest Washington’s proposed framework includes a suspension of Iran’s uranium enrichment activities, sanctions relief, and the restoration of free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, many provisions would reportedly depend on a broader final agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint in the crisis. Iran has continued restricting maritime movement through the strategic waterway, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes. The disruption has already driven global oil prices higher.
Iranian officials have warned regional countries against cooperating with US sanctions or naval operations. Military spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said vessels transiting the strait without Tehran’s approval could face “severe consequences,” while also dismissing Washington’s naval blockade strategy as ineffective.
The United States maintains extensive military deployments across the Gulf region, including bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The crisis has also drawn European involvement. The United Kingdom announced plans to send a Royal Navy warship to the Middle East as part of a proposed multinational mission to secure shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities subside. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron are jointly backing the initiative.
Iran responded by warning London and Paris of a “decisive and immediate response” to any military deployment in the strait. Macron later clarified that France was considering a security coordination mission rather than a direct naval intervention.
Regional tensions intensified further after reports of drone incursions over Kuwait and the interception of Iranian drones by UAE air defences. The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre also reported that a bulk carrier near Doha had been struck by an unidentified projectile, causing minor damage but no casualties.
The current conflict began on 28 February, when US and Israeli forces launched large-scale air strikes on Iran. Although a ceasefire is currently in place, diplomatic efforts remain fragile as both sides continue to exchange threats over military escalation and control of critical energy routes.
