Iran has given the United States an ultimatum, saying it is up to Washington to decide whether to pursue a negotiated settlement or return to open war. The statement comes after President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with a new Iranian negotiating proposal.
Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said that Tehran is prepared for either outcome, emphasizing that the ball is now in the US court. The proposal, which Trump has rejected, would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the US blockade of Iran, while leaving talks on Iran's nuclear program for later.
Trump has faced domestic pressure to break Iran's hold on the strait, which has choked off 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies and pushed up US gasoline prices. The US and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, but appear no closer to a deal to end the war.
The US has repeatedly said it will not end the war without a deal that prevents Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and has proposed shelving nuclear talks for a later stage to facilitate an agreement.
