No breakthrough in sight Trump outraged by Iran's response
The USA and Iran are making no progress in their efforts to end the war.
11.05.2026, 06:02
11.05.2026, 12:20
SDA
On the contrary: US President Donald Trump described Iran's latest response to the US proposal for a diplomatic solution to the conflict as "totally unacceptable" and issued further threats against the Islamic Republic. Iran was unimpressed by this and made demands of its own. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to continue the war until important questions about Iran's nuclear program have been resolved.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "I just read the response from the so-called "representatives" of Iran. I don't like it - TOTALLY INACCEPTABLE." He told the news portal "Axios" that he would reject Iran's inappropriate response. "I don't like their response," Trump said, without elaborating on the content of the letter. He left open whether he wanted to continue the negotiations. Hours earlier, Trump had already threatened Iran in another post. "They won't be laughing much longer!" it said.
Iranian state media: USA must pay reparations
Iranian state media, on the other hand, assessed the US proposal for an end to the war as a call for Tehran to capitulate. Accepting the proposal would have meant the Islamic Republic submitting to Trump's "excessive demands", commented the pro-government broadcaster Press TV, among others. In contrast, the plan presented by Iran emphasizes that an end to the war is necessary on all fronts and that the USA must pay war reparations.
According to state media, Iran also demanded full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to sanctions against the country and the release of confiscated Iranian assets. The dispute over Iran's nuclear program did not play a role in the response. The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, quoted an informed source as saying that Trump's response had no significance. No one in Iran is making proposals to please Trump.
On Sunday, Iran had passed on a response to the US proposal to end the war to the mediator Pakistan. A few days ago, the Iranian government announced that it was examining a proposal from the USA. This is a 14-point declaration of intent. One of its aims is to create a framework for negotiations, initially lasting 30 days, in order to end the war.
According to media reports, discussions will include an easing of US sanctions and agreements on the future of the Strait of Hormuz, a strait in the Persian Gulf that is important for the global economy. In addition, a basis for negotiations on Iran's controversial nuclear program is to be created.
Influential US senator calls for a change of course
Trump received support for a tougher stance towards Tehran from influential US Senator Lindsey Graham. The Republican wrote on X that in view of Iran's ongoing attacks on international shipping and US allies in the Middle East, it was time to change course: "'Project Freedom Plus' sounds pretty good right now."
Last Monday, the US launched "Project Freedom" to reopen the largely blocked Strait of Hormuz to shipping. But just a day or so later, Trump surprisingly announced that the operation would be suspended "for a short time".
Netanyahu: Nuclear material must be removed from Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not consider the war to be over yet. "It's not over yet, because there is still nuclear material, enriched uranium, that needs to be removed from Iran," he told the US broadcaster CBS on the program "60 Minutes" according to a pre-released preview. Uranium enrichment facilities would also have to be dismantled.
Trump expressed confidence that the United States would "eventually" secure Iran's enriched uranium. "We will get it eventually, along with everything we want," he said in an interview published on Sunday on the program "Full Measure". The material is "under observation" by the US, Trump said. "If anybody gets close to the site, we will know about it, and we will blow it up."
US senator: Ammunition stocks severely depleted
Meanwhile, Democratic US Senator Mark Kelly pointed out that the US military's ammunition and missile stocks have been severely depleted. It is "shocking how much we have depleted these stocks", he said on the CBS program "Face The Nation". It will take years to rebuild these stocks, he said. Kelly warned that the USA might no longer be able to defend its country in the event of a large-scale attack.
In view of Trump's dissatisfaction with the latest response from Tehran, Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz believes that Iran has no intention of capitulating or accepting Washington's demands now or in the foreseeable future. Even if the military confrontation resumed, Tehran was unlikely to change its course, he wrote on X. The only realistic ways to reach an agreement are either a compromise on central Iranian demands - or a change of power in Iran. For the latter, however, Washington would have to make enormous military, political and economic resources available.
