U.S. Waiting for Tehran's Response to Peace Proposal

Reuters/Yonhap News Agency [Financial News] The United States government is waiting for a response from Iran to its latest peace proposal. As of the 9th local time, no clear breakthrough had emerged.
AFP and Radio Free Europe reported that U. S.President Donald Trump and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the previous day that they expected Iran's reply to the U. S.ceasefire proposal on the 8th. However, by the afternoon of the following day, neither side had issued an official statement on the matter.The peace plan proposed by the United States is a memo of about one page. It calls for a halt to the fighting and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while leaving some issues, including Iran's right to enrich uranium, for later discussion.However, by the morning of the 10th local time in the Middle East, Iran had not sent a reply through mediator Pakistan. Instead, it issued only a statement accusing Washington of lacking sincerity.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the move, saying, "The U. S.
military's escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf and its violation of the ceasefire make it difficult to trust Washington's sincerity about a diplomatic solution. " Iran The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has criticized the United States for continuing its maritime blockade of Iranian ports.The IRGC warned that "any attack on an Iranian tanker or merchant vessel will lead to powerful retaliatory strikes against major U. S.bases in the region and enemy ships. " The warning came a day after the United States struck and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers on suspicion that they had tried to violate the blockade in the Gulf of Oman.
United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) said on the 9th that the maritime blockade was "being enforced perfectly. " It added that since April 13, it had turned back 58 merchant vessels and disabled four to prevent them from entering Iranian ports.
After U. S.
and Israeli airstrikes that began on February 28 killed many members of Iran's leadership, U. S.
President Donald Trump described the Iranian regime as "out of control" and said it had no clear ruler. Experts say the IRGC has seized power amid the leadership vacuum and is blocking the efforts of moderate figures who had been seeking an agreement with the United States.
Axios reported that Rubio and White House envoy Steven Charles Witkoff met with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Miami on the 9th to discuss the end of the war. As the United States pursues both diplomacy and pressure, Rubio has recently strongly defended U.
S. military action in the Persian Gulf and dismissed Iran's attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz.
Referring to this strategic chokepoint, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply passes, Rubio stressed, "It is absolutely unacceptable for Iran to seize international waterways and claim control over them.
" Iran is also reportedly trying to establish a separate body to approve ships passing through the strait.
Reuters/Yonhap News Agency [Financial News] The United States government is waiting for a response from Iran to its latest peace proposal. As of the 9th local time, no clear breakthrough had emerged.
jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter