Trump expects US-Iran talks this week after rejecting Tehran proposal

US President Donald Trump has said that he expected the United States and Iran to hold more talks this week, despite rejecting Tehran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear negotiations. “I expect more talks with Iran (this week), ” Trump told Axios, adding that Iran wanted a deal but not the one Washington was seeking. Two regional sources told Axios that indirect talks could resume as early as Monday, although it remained unclear whether the two sides could bridge their differences. Iran’s proposal, presented during indirect talks in New York last week, called for reopening the Strait within a week and resuming nuclear negotiations if the United States lifted its naval blockade of Iranian ports, removed sanctions on Iranian oil sales and restored a regional ceasefire. Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday, calling it unacceptable. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that Tehran still wanted a diplomatic solution and was awaiting an official US response through mediators. Qatar and other regional mediators have continued efforts to narrow differences, with Qatari officials shuttling messages between the two sides and working on a possible compromise text. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York last week before briefing US envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump said he was “always” considering the possibility of resuming military strikes against Iran. He also said US forces were facilitating oil shipments through the Strait, with more than 20 million barrels passing through the waterway over the weekend. A US defence official told Axios that 22 million barrels were exported through the strait on Friday night.

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