Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has said he is "not satisfied" with a new Iranian negotiating proposal, as talks aimed at ending the conflict remain stalled despite a weeks-long ceasefire.
Iran reportedly delivered the proposal text to mediator Pakistan, although details of its contents have not been made public.
Trump questions Iran's intentions
Speaking to reporters, Trump blamed internal divisions within Iran for the lack of progress in negotiations. "At this moment I'm not satisfied with what they're offering," he said, adding that there is "tremendous discord" within Iran's leadership.
He also suggested the US faces difficult choices ahead. "Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever - or do we want to try and make a deal?" he said, while adding he would "prefer not" to take military action "on a human basis."
The conflict, which began with US and Israeli strikes in late February, has been paused since April 8 under a ceasefire arrangement. However, only one unsuccessful round of direct talks has taken place between US and Iranian representatives.
Despite the truce, tensions remain high, with both sides maintaining restrictive measures affecting maritime trade routes and energy flows.
Iran has continued its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, while the US has imposed countermeasures targeting Iranian ports. The disruption has significantly affected global oil and energy markets.
Oil prices remain elevated compared to pre-conflict levels, reflecting ongoing uncertainty over supply routes.
Diplomatic uncertainty continues
The White House has not disclosed details of the new Iranian proposal. However, reports suggest US negotiators had earlier proposed amendments focusing on Iran's nuclear programme and restrictions on uranium activity at sensitive sites.
While some optimism briefly followed news of renewed proposals, officials and analysts say the situation remains fragile and unresolved.
The US has continued to impose sanctions on Iranian financial entities and warned against transactions linked to maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Officials say the measures are intended to maintain pressure on Tehran while diplomatic efforts continue, although no clear breakthrough has been achieved.
Despite ongoing tensions and stalled negotiations, the ceasefire has so far held. However, both sides continue to accuse each other of delaying meaningful progress, leaving the conflict in a prolonged state of uncertainty.
(With AFP inputs)