The United States has proposed a ceasefire to Iran and is awaiting a response, but discussions to end the U.S.-Iran conflict remain stalled as Iran has not provided an immediate reply. While seeking a diplomatic solution, the U.S. continues to impose sanctions and maintain a maritime blockade, with Iran warning of retaliation against attacks on its vessels.
According to Reuters on May 9, the U.S. is waiting for Iran's response to the ceasefire proposal. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on May 8, stating he expected to receive Iran's answer that evening.
In an interview with French media, Trump reiterated his expectation for a prompt response from Iran. Margo Hadad, a reporter for France's LCI, shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that Trump indicated he anticipated hearing from Iran "very soon" during their conversation.
However, a day later, there were no signs of movement from Iran regarding the proposal. The ceasefire offer includes provisions to officially end the war before addressing sensitive issues such as Iran's nuclear program.
Currently, the U.S. and Iran appear to be discussing a framework where they would first declare an end to hostilities, followed by negotiations over the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, limitations on Iran's nuclear program, and the lifting of sanctions against Iran over a 30-day period.
A key point of contention is how to handle Iran's nuclear program. In a PBS interview last week, Trump claimed that any agreement with Iran would involve the transfer of Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium to the U.S. and a halt to operations at Iran's underground nuclear facilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also suggested that, if necessary, Russia could store Iran's enriched uranium as part of a ceasefire agreement.
However, it remains uncertain whether Iran will respond promptly to the U.S. proposal. Some analysts suggest that Iran may be stalling to extract further concessions from the U.S.
As Trump prepares for a visit to China for a U.S.-China summit on May 14-15, he continues to express optimism about reaching a deal. In contrast, analysts believe that Iran has little incentive to quickly accept U.S. demands, given that a ceasefire is already in effect.
The Guardian reported that diplomats who have dealt with Iranian negotiators noted that Iran tends to act as if it has ample time during negotiations.
U.S. Intensifies Pressure on Iran
In response, the U.S. is seeking diplomatic solutions while also ramping up pressure on Iran. The U.S. Treasury announced on Friday that it would impose sanctions on 10 individuals and entities that assisted Iran's military in acquiring weapons and materials for Shahed drones. The sanctions include several individuals and companies based in China and Hong Kong.
Military tensions surrounding the maritime blockade continue. The U.S. military is blocking Iran's trade routes through a maritime blockade, while Iran has warned that it will retaliate against U.S. bases and vessels of hostile forces if its ships are attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, stated via X that as of today, it has altered the routes of 58 commercial vessels and neutralized four ships to prevent entry and exit to Iranian ports since April 13.
In response, Iran has vowed to take strong action if its tankers and commercial vessels are attacked. According to AFP, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any attack on Iranian tankers or commercial ships would lead to severe retaliation against U.S. bases and enemy vessels in the region.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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