Iran Responds to US Peace Offer While Netanyahu Vows War Continues

Iran delivered its response to the United States’ latest peace proposal through Pakistani mediators, according to Iranian state media. The core of Tehran’s reply centers on “ending the war and maritime security” in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, but notably omits any direct mention of nuclear negotiations. The proposal from the US aims to formally end the conflict and reopen the Strait before addressing Iran’s nuclear program.

However, Iran’s conditions complicate matters. Reports from the Hezbollah-linked Al Mayadeen outlet reveal Tehran demands maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz and lifting all oil-related sanctions, including the release of frozen Iranian funds. For now, negotiations will continue only through written communications via intermediaries, signaling a cautious and guarded stance.

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed Iran has been “militarily defeated,” dismissed Tehran’s response as more “games” in a decades-long pattern of stalling. His comments on Truth Social criticized previous administrations’ Iran policies and underscored his impatience with the stalled talks. Despite Trump’s apparent desire to end hostilities, the ceasefire faces strain as Iran reportedly launched drone attacks on Gulf countries including Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait.

On the Israeli front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CBS’s “60 Minutes” that the war with Iran is “not over.” He emphasized the need to remove Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, which he described as a critical unfinished mission. Netanyahu suggested this uranium could be physically extracted with or without Iranian consent, implying military options remain on the table. He declined to elaborate on specific plans or timelines but underscored the importance of continuing operations against Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.

This stark divergence between Trump’s narrative of victory and Netanyahu’s insistence on ongoing conflict highlights the precariousness of the situation. Iran’s demands and continued military actions, combined with Israel’s hawkish stance, suggest that any resolution remains distant. The war’s future hinges on whether diplomacy can overcome entrenched mistrust and competing strategic interests, or if escalation will persist under the guise of “security” and regime survival.

At a moment when the world watches closely, the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran conflict underscores a pattern of using foreign wars to distract from domestic failures and consolidate power — all while risking further instability in a volatile region. We will keep tracking every twist in this dangerous game.