Trump Rejects Latest Iranian Truce Proposal

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Top of the Agenda

Trump rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal yesterday as multiple Gulf countries reported incoming drone attacks. Even as the main parties have not returned to full-fledged war in the Persian Gulf, Israeli strikes killed at least thirty-nine people in Lebanon over the weekend, according to Lebanon’s health ministry, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu telling CBS News this weekend that the war is “not over.” Iran seeks a regional end to the war, including an end to the fighting in Lebanon, its foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said today. 

Further details on Iran’s stance. Iran’s latest proposal also focused on halting maritime attacks against Iranian vessels and unfreezing Iranian assets, Baghaei said. Separately, Iranian state media reported that Tehran called for recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for war damages.

What the United States and Israel are saying. While Trump called Iran’s latest response in negotiations “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” he neither specified what aspects he objected to nor immediately announced a return to hostilities. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz told ABC News yesterday that Trump was “giving diplomacy every chance” before resuming military action. In his interview with CBS News, Netanyahu said there was still “work to be done” on dismantling Iranian enrichment sites and ballistic missiles. He suggested Iran’s enriched uranium could be removed from the country through a deal or military means.

Weekend hostilities. Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) all reported drone attacks over the weekend, with the UAE openly blaming Tehran for the strikes. Drones attacked a ship in Qatari waters and entered Kuwaiti and Emirati airspace. Qatar was targeted despite serving as a mediator in the conflict, alongside Pakistan.

“Despite the enormous damage being done by our armed forces to Iran’s capabilities, it almost doesn’t matter how many Iranian vessels have been sunk or how many launchers have been destroyed. The fact is Iran still dictates what goes through the strait and they still are able to attack shipping.”

—Former U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Frederick “Ben” Hodges at a CFR Meeting

Across the Globe

Fighting amid Ukraine truce. A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine only partially held over the weekend, with both sides reporting casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that Ukraine refrained from long-range strikes due to the absence of large-scale Russian attacks, but that fighting continued on the front lines. Trump said Friday that the truce, which ends today, also included a prisoner exchange.

Modi urges fuel conservation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians yesterday to work from home, use public transportation, and avoid international travel in response to the energy crisis caused by the Iran war. He said the central government was shielding farmers from rising fertilizer prices via subsidies, but implored farmers to cut their chemical fertilizer use by as much as half.

Iranian Nobel winner’s transfer. Iranian authorities transferred 2023 Nobel peace prize winner Narges Mohammadi from a local hospital near her prison to her medical team in Tehran, the activist’s foundation said. Her family and rights groups called for the move after she collapsed in jail more than a week ago, saying her condition was critical. The Iranian government did not immediately comment. 

China confirms Trump’s visit. Trump will pay a state visit to China between Wednesday and Friday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, China’s foreign ministry said today. The trip was originally scheduled for April but delayed due to the Iran war, which Trump and Xi are expected to discuss. It will be the first U.S. presidential visit to China since Trump’s last visit in 2017.

EU trade ties with Syria. The European Union (EU) announced today it is fully restoring an economic cooperation agreement with Syria that it began scaling back in 2011 due to human rights violations by the former Bashar al-Assad regime. The resumption of the deal reflects changing conditions in Syria after Assad’s fall and the EU’s goal of supporting Syria’s economic recovery, Brussels said.

Philippine VP impeached in lower house. Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached in the country’s lower legislative house today, a move that could end her presidential ambitions if confirmed in the Senate. She faces the same accusations of misusing state funds and issuing public threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that led to her previous lower house impeachment last year. The country’s Supreme Court blocked that impeachment from moving forward.  

Reported Israeli military base in Iraq. Israel covertly operated a military base in Iraq during the early days of the Iran war, unnamed sources including U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal. Israeli forces carried out strikes against Iraqi troops investigating unusual activity in the area and killed one Iraqi service member, prompting Iraq to file a complaint at the United Nations. Israel’s military did not comment on the report. 

Car bomb in Pakistan. A car bombing and ambush on a police checkpoint in a Pakistani province along the Afghan border killed at least fifteen people on Saturday, local authorities said. A group that has been linked to the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistani police said more than one hundred militants participated.

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