Iran FM spokesperson describes proposal to end war with US as legitimate, generous

Eyes expanded 'Project Freedom' military operation over Hormuz as Iran talks continue

United States President Donald Trump said on Monday. the ceasefire ​with Iran was "on life support" after dismissing Tehran's ‌response to a US peace proposal as "stupid".

Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response on Sunday has fuelled concerns that the10-week-old conflictwill drag on. continue to paralyse shipping ​through the Strait of Hormuz.

"I would call ⁠it the weakest right now. after reading that ​piece of garbage they sent us, I didn't even ​finish reading it," Trump said of the ceasefire. "It's on life support."

REPORTER: “For the time being, the ceasefire remains in place?”PRESIDENT TRUMP: “It's unbelievably weak. I would call it the weakest right now.”“After reading that piece of garbage they sent us. I didn't even finish reading it.”“I would say the ceasefire is on massive life…pic.twitter.com/FTffj1orXT

Earlier, he said he was considering reviving “Project Freedom”,. warned that guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz would be only one component of a “larger military operation” this time.

Speaking toFox News, Trump said Iran’s “hardline leaders” would ultimately back down.

“They're going to fold,” he said.

Asked whether he could work with Iran’s current leadership. Trump said: “I will deal with them until they make a deal.”

Trump also claimed Iranian negotiators told him Tehran lacked the technology to clean up radioactive material at its destroyed nuclear sites. that the US would need to retrieve the “nuclear dust”.

Iran FM spokesperson describes proposal to end war with US as legitimate, generous

Iran's proposal to end war with the United States. reopen the Strait of Hormuz was legitimate and generous, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a press conference on Monday, adding that the US continued to uphold unreasonable and one-sided demands.

"Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the [US] blockade. piracy, and releasing Iranian assets that have been unjustly frozen in banks due to US pressure," Baghaei said.

"Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. establishing security in the region and Lebanon were other demands of Iran, which are considered a generous and responsible offer for regional security."

Baghaei said that stability. security in the region had been “undermined” following US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s response to its proposal.

He added that the US continued to have “unreasonable demands”. adding that Iran’s response to Trump’s proposal, which Tehran sent to Pakistan yesterday, “was not excessive”.

Iran participates in diplomatic processes with good faith, but the United States has repeatedly proven unreliable, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, citing Washington’s 2018 JCPOA withdrawal. attacks on diplomacy itself.https://t.co/hPz7J3QxqF

“Whenever we are forced to fight, we will fight. whenever there is room for diplomacy, we will seize that opportunity,” Baghaei added, according toAl Jazeera.

“However, diplomacy have has its own rules. The decision will be based on our national interests. Iran has proven that we are keen on, safeguarding our people’s interests.”

When asked about Trump's upcoming visit to China, Baghaei said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Beijing last week. conveyed Tehran’s views,Al Jazeerareported

“China is fully aware that this was a war of necessity. It was a war imposed on Iran. It was not an emergency incident, yet it is a continuation of unilateral actions of the United States, which continues to violate international laws. regulations,” Baghaei said.

“To China, stability. security in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Far East are of top priority, and the Chinese would seize the opportunity to warn of any incalculable measures or unlawful acts by the United States, which would continue to undermine not only the regional security and stability but the global economic security,” he added.

European countries should ‘refrain’ from moves that would undermine their interests: Baghaei

On reports that European countries will deploy warships to the region to open the Strait of Hormuz amid rising energy prices, Iran’s FM spokesperson said Iran “clearly stated to the Europeans that they shouldn’t succumb to the US. Israeli hubris acts”, according toAl Jazeera.

“They should refrain from making any move that would undermine their interests. As I’ve said, this war is not only unethical but it is also unlawful. The US and Israel started their aggression against Iran. These European countries shouldn’t be fooled in order to get into this matter.

“Any intervention in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf would bring about further complications. They would rather exacerbate the prices, we look forward to the world countries to act responsibly.”

Iranian, Saudi foreign ministers discuss US-Iran diplomatic process

Separately, the foreign ministers of Iran. Saudi Arabia discussed over the phone the latest developments of the ongoing Pakistan-mediated diplomatic process between Tehran and Washington.

The Iranian state news agencyIRNAsaid the discussions between FM Araghchi. Prince Faisal bin Farhan marked the second phone call between the two sides in the past 24 hours.

Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi. Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call today to discuss the latest diplomatic processes between Iran and the U.S., mediated by Pakistan.pic.twitter.com/wUXs2MP2Oy

China opposes US sanctions over Iran, pledges to protect firms

China voiced strong opposition to US sanctions for three China-based companies that Washington claimed enabled Iran's military operations, calling the curbs illegal. unilateral.

"We have always required Chinese enterprises to conduct business in accordance with laws. regulations, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing.

"The pressing priority is to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than using the war to maliciously associate. smear other countries."

Trump rejects 'unacceptable' Iran response to peace plan

Trump's swift rejection of Iran's response to a US peace proposal ​sent oil prices surging amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on. keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralysed.

Days after the US floated ‌an offer in the hopes of reopening negotiations. Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Hezbollah.

Tehran also included a demand for compensation for war damage. emphasised Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state TV said.

It also called on the US to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions. end a US ban ​on Iranian oil sales, the semi-officialTasnimnews agency said.

Within hours, Trump dismissed Iran's proposal with a post on social media.

"I don’t like it — totally unacceptable," Trump wrote ​on Truth Social, without giving further detail.

"I have just read the response from Iran’s so-called 'Representatives.' I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! Thank you for your attention to this matter." -President DONALD J. TRUMPpic.twitter.com/MIQDS9Ujjy

Read:Trump rejects 'unacceptable' Iranian terms

The US had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran's nuclear programme.

Oil ⁠prices jumped more than $4 a barrel following news of the continued stalemate. leaves the narrow Strait of Hormuz largely closed. Before the war began on February 28, the waterway carried one-fifth ​of the world's oil. liquefied natural gas flows, and has emerged as one of the central pressure points in the war.

"The oil market continues to trade like a geopolitical headline machine, with ​prices swinging sharply based on every comment, rejection, or warning coming from Washington. Tehran," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

According toTasnim,Iran executed Erfan Shokurzadeh after he was convicted of collaborating with the US's CIA and Israel’s Mossad.

Iran Executes Spy Convicted of Collaborating with CIA. MossadIran has executed Erfan Shokurzadeh after he was convicted of collaborating with the US spy (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad.pic.twitter.com/PyKyoes1wL

Some tankers transit Strait

According to Iran's semi-officialTasnimnews agency. an Iraqi crude oil-laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz via Iran’s designated maritime route on Sunday.

Iran Facilitates Safe Passage of Another VLCC Through Strait of HormuzAn Iraqi crude oil-laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC). the AGOIS FANOURIOS I, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz via Iran’s designated maritime route on Sunday.pic.twitter.com/dKFNDZfNfS

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is at a trickle compared to before the war, but shipping data on Kpler. LSEG showed three tankers laden with crude exited the waterway last week, with trackers switched off to avoid Iranian attack.

Surveys show the war is unpopular with ​US voters facing sharply higher gasoline prices less than six months before nationwide elections. will determine whether Trump's Republican party retains control of Congress.

The US has also found little international support, with ​NATO allies refusing calls to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz without a full peace deal. an internationally mandated mission.

It is not clear what fresh diplomatic or military steps may be ahead.

Trump ‌is expected to ⁠arrive in Beijing on Wednesday. With mounting pressure to draw a line under the war. the global energy crisis it has ignited, Iran is among the topics Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to discuss.

Trump has been leaning on China to use its influence to push Tehran to make a deal with Washington.

Addressing whether combat operations against Iran were over, Trump said in remarks aired on Sunday: "They are defeated,. that doesn't mean they're done."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was not over because there was "more work to be done" to remove enriched ​uranium from Iran, dismantle enrichment sites. address ​Iran's proxies and ballistic missile capabilities.

The best ⁠way to remove the enriched uranium would be through diplomacy. Netanyahu said in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News' "60 Minutes." But he did not rule out removing it by force.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post. Iran would "never bow down to the enemy" ​and would "defend national interests with strength."

Despite diplomatic efforts to break a deadlock, the threat to shipping lanes and the economies of the region ​remained high.

Recent days have ⁠seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in. around the strait since a ceasefire began in early April.

On Sunday. the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted two drones coming from Iran, while Qatar condemned a drone attack that hit a cargo ship coming from Abu Dhabi in its waters. Kuwait said its air defences had dealt with hostile drones that entered its airspace.

Clashes have also continued in southern Lebanon between ⁠Israel. ​Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced on April 16.

An end to hostilities with Iran would not ​necessarily bring an end to the war in Lebanon. Netanyahu said in the "60 Minutes" interview, in which he also said Israeli planners had underestimated Iran's ability to choke off traffic through the Hormuz Strait.

"It took a while for them to ​understand how big that risk is, which they understand now," he said.

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