Washington rejects Iran’s ceasefire offer
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tribune Online
Iran proposes a ceasefire including lifting the blockade of its ports, easing US sanctions and stopping bombings. Washington considers some conditions unacceptable, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a diplomatic breakthrough is not imminent, according to statements reported by Tribune Online.
US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s ceasefire proposal in the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, according to Tribune Online. Tehran’s offer notably called for the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports, an easing of certain sanctions and an end to US bombings. In return, Iran would have ended its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The proposal also called for discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme and other sanctions to be postponed to a later phase. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the conditions for a diplomatic agreement were not in place in the short term. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei defended his country’s offer on Monday, describing it as the most reasonable proposal available.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed ben Abdelrahmane Al-Thani, is due to meet Donald Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance in Washington as part of diplomatic efforts. He had travelled to Tehran the previous week before heading to the US capital. Doha plays a mediating role thanks to its relations with the various regional actors.
Military tensions are continuing alongside diplomatic efforts. Iranian state media reported a US strike on the Iranian island of Qeshm overnight, while attacks involving vessels in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are fuelling concerns over maritime security. The conflict is also weighing on regional transport and energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz serving as a key route for international oil exports.
The meeting in Washington comes amid political pressure on Donald Trump following the Republican Party’s poor results in the midterm elections the previous week. Some Republican officials, including JD Vance, have linked the electoral difficulties to dissatisfaction among some voters over the war. The Qatari government chief’s visit follows the discussions between Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar over the war in Iran.
