United States President, Donald Trump, has rejected Iran’s latest conditions for ending the ongoing Middle East conflict, escalating fears of renewed hostilities and triggering a sharp rise in global oil prices.
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, described Tehran’s response to Washington’s peace proposal as “totally unacceptable,” although he did not disclose details of the offer.
“I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called representatives. I don’t like it totally unacceptable,” the US leader stated.
The development unsettled global energy markets, with Brent crude climbing by over four per cent to nearly $100 per barrel in early Asian trading, while the US West Texas Intermediate crude also recorded a significant increase.
The renewed tension follows Iran’s warning that it would retaliate against any further military action by the United States and would not permit additional foreign naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transit route.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also signalled that military operations against Iran would continue until Tehran’s nuclear infrastructure is dismantled.
Speaking during an interview with CBS, Netanyahu said the conflict could not end while Iran still retained enriched uranium and operational nuclear sites.
Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, however, maintained a defiant stance, insisting that Tehran would not surrender under pressure.
“We will never bow to the enemy. Dialogue does not mean surrender,” Pezeshkian wrote on social media.
According to Iranian state media, Tehran’s response to the US proposal focused on ending the conflict across the region, including hostilities involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, while also demanding guarantees on maritime security.
Reports indicated that Iran proposed transferring part of its enriched uranium stockpile to a third country while diluting another portion as part of possible negotiations.
However, Iranian officials reportedly requested assurances that the materials would be returned if Washington abandoned any future agreement.
The diplomatic deadlock has intensified concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has reportedly tightened restrictions on shipping activities.
The United States has insisted that any attempt by Tehran to control the strategic waterway would be unacceptable, as the route handles a significant portion of global oil exports.
Meanwhile, Britain and France are said to be coordinating discussions on international maritime security in the Gulf region, amid growing fears of wider regional instability.
Fresh security concerns also emerged on Sunday after drone incidents were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, further heightening tensions in the region.
An Iranian parliamentary security official, Ebrahim Rezaei, warned that Tehran’s “restraint is over,” threatening decisive action against American military assets if Iranian vessels are attacked.
