As the United States and Iran continue back-channel contacts over a cease-fire, Iran has proposed a new truce plan that includes ending the war within 30 days, according to reports. President Donald Trump signaled he remains dissatisfied and suggested military action could resume.
AP and CNN reported May 2, citing Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency and Iranian state television, that Iran sent the United States a new cease-fire proposal through mediator Pakistan. The plan reportedly contains 14 provisions.
The proposal was described as Iran’s response to a nine-point U.S. plan. Its central element would replace a U.S.-proposed two-month cease-fire with an end to the war within 30 days, the reports said. The plan also reportedly calls for guarantees related to U.S. hostile actions, a U.S. troop withdrawal from areas around Iran, an end to a U.S. maritime blockade of Iran, the unfreezing of Iranian accounts and lifting of sanctions, an end to the Lebanon conflict, and a new mechanism for managing the Strait of Hormuz.
Axios, citing two sources, reported that Iran’s proposal includes a one-month negotiating period to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz, ending the U.S. maritime blockade and ending the Lebanon war, with nuclear talks to follow only after agreement on those items.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said the goal of the proposal is a “permanent halt” to the war. “The ball is now in the U.S. court,” he said, adding that Washington must choose between a diplomatic solution and continued confrontation.
Trump: Iran must pay for 47 years
Trump responded skeptically. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, he said he would soon review the proposal Iran “just sent,” but added it was hard to imagine accepting it because Iran “has not yet paid enough” for what he said it has done to humanity and the world over the past 47 years, a reference to Iran’s posture since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach airport in Florida, Trump was asked whether he could resume attacks on Iran. “If they act rude or do bad things,” he said. “For now, we’ll watch. That could definitely happen.” He was reported to have received a new Iran military plan briefing from U.S. Central Command on April 30.
Iran also warned of renewed confrontation. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, told the semi-official Fars News Agency that a clash between Iran and the United States could resume, saying it was being proven that the United States does not keep any promises or agreements.
The White House said lobbyist Nick Stewart, who served as a State Department official during Trump’s first term, recently joined the Iran negotiating team. CBS, citing officials, reported Stewart was recommended by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and a member of the Iran team, and is known as a hard-liner who strongly supports military action against Iran. The State Department also said May 1 it fast-tracked approval of $8.6 billion (about 12.6533 trillion won) in arms sales to key regional partners including Israel, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The developments underscored rising tensions as both sides continue cease-fire communications while not ruling out a return to military conflict.
The United States has paused military operations since agreeing on April 8 to a two-week truce with Iran. In a letter to Congress on May 1 marking 60 days since notifying lawmakers about the Iran war, Trump said hostilities with Iran had “ended,” signaling that congressional approval would not be required under the 60-day notification framework if the war was no longer continuing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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