U.S. President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction on Friday with a new negotiating proposal from Iran, signaling a continued deadlock in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict despite a weeks-long pause in direct hostilities.
The proposal was submitted to Pakistan, acting as a mediator, on Thursday evening. While the official IRNA news agency confirmed the delivery of the text, specific details regarding Iran’s concessions remain undisclosed.
Speaking to reporters, Trump attributed the lack of progress to internal “discord” within the Iranian government, suggesting that political infighting in Tehran is hindering a viable resolution.
”At this moment I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering. 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? I would prefer not to take the first option on a human basis.”
A FRAGILE STALEMATE
The conflict, which began with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, has been under a ceasefire since April 8. However, diplomacy has stalled following a single failed round of direct negotiations.
Under domestic pressure to clarify the legal standing of the military campaign, Trump sent a formal letter to Congress on Friday declaring hostilities “terminated,” even as the U.S. military maintains its aggressive posture in the region.
The economic fallout remains severe. Iran continues to obstruct the Strait of Hormuz, halting the global flow of oil, gas, and fertilizer. In retaliation, the United States has maintained a naval blockade on all major Iranian ports, creating a high-stakes standoff with no immediate end in sight.
REGIONAL VIOLENCE PERSISTS
While the primary ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran holds, the broader region remains engulfed in violence. In Lebanon, the situation continues to deteriorate despite a separate April 17 truce intended to halt fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
According to the Lebanese health ministry, at least 12 people were killed on Friday during a series of intense Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
The National News Agency reported that the strikes, which hit several towns including Habboush, commenced less than an hour after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for the area.