U.S. Responds to Iran's 14-Point Proposal ... Trump Says It Is "Unacceptable"

[The Financial News, New York City = Reporter Lee Byung-chul]The ceasefire negotiations between Iran and the United States of America (U.S.) have reached another critical turning point. After Iran delivered its latest peace proposal and received an official response from the U.S., prospects for resuming talks have dimmed as President Donald Trump signaled a de facto rejection, saying that "Iran has not yet paid a sufficient price."
Reuters reported on the 3rd local time that the U.S. had conveyed its response to Iran's 14-point peace proposal through Pakistan. Iran is said to be reviewing Washington's position. However, the U.S. and Pakistani governments have not yet officially confirmed the report.
Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said on the day that "there are no nuclear talks at this stage." The remark was interpreted as a reaffirmation of Tehran's position that nuclear negotiations would only proceed after issues such as ending the war and lifting the blockade on Gulf shipping were addressed first.
President Trump said on social media that he would review Iran's proposal soon, but he expressed strong skepticism about accepting it. He said, "Compared with what it has done to the world over the past 47 years, it has not yet paid enough."
Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported, citing an interview with Trump that day, that the president said he had "reviewed everything" about Iran's proposal but that it was "unacceptable."
The key issue is the order of the negotiations. Iran wants to first address ending the war, lifting the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, unfreezing assets, and removing sanctions before discussing the nuclear issue. The U.S., by contrast, is demanding limits on Iran's nuclear program as a precondition for ending the war.
In particular, the U.S. is making the surrender of all more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium held by Iran a core condition. Washington believes the material could be used to make nuclear weapons. Iran, meanwhile, insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but says it could discuss some restrictions if sanctions are lifted.
Meanwhile, Iran's 14-point proposal is said to include the withdrawal of U.S. forces, lifting the blockade, the return of frozen assets, payment of compensation, removal of sanctions, a comprehensive end to the conflict including the Lebanon front, and the establishment of a joint management system for the strait. Iran has effectively controlled nearly all shipping in the Gulf except for its own vessels for more than two months, while the U.S. last month also imposed its own blockade on ships departing Iranian ports.
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pride@fnnews.com Reporter Lee Byung-chul Reporter