Iran is demanding an end to the war and the blockade, while Trump is rejecting the offer, and fears of an escalation are growing.

TEHRAN. – U.S. President Donald Trump's rejection of Iran's latest counteroffer has once again cooled negotiations to end the war in the Middle East and heightened fears of a new escalation in the Persian Gulf. While Washington considers the Iranian proposal "totally unacceptable," Tehran insists that its demands are "legitimate" and is hardening its military warnings around the strategic Strait of Hormuz. These are the key points of the new diplomatic deadlock between the United States and Iran. Trump flatly rejected Iran's counterproposal. Tehran announced on Monday that it had presented a counteroffer to Washington that includes several key demands: an end to the war in the Middle East, the lifting of the U.S. blockade on its ports, and the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that Iran "did not ask for concessions," but rather for the recognition of its "legitimate rights." Among the Iranian conditions are guarantees of security in the region and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial maritime traffic. A South Korean cargo ship that was hit in the Strait of Hormuz six days ago was struck by an unidentified aircraft. HANDOUT - South Korean Foreign Ministry. In addition, according to press reports, Tehran would be willing to dilute part of its highly enriched uranium and send another part to a third country. But it demands guarantees of return if negotiations fail or if the United States again abandons a potential agreement. Trump called the Iranian counterproposal "totally unacceptable" in a message posted on his Truth Social network, although he avoided specifying which points he considers non-negotiable. The original proposal from Washington called for a cessation of hostilities first, followed by broader negotiations on sensitive issues, especially Iran's nuclear program. The United States, Israel, and several Western allies have long claimed that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge that Tehran consistently denies. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most sensitive points of the agreement. Fatima Shbair - APE. Lifting sanctions and the blockade would also represent a key economic relief for Iran and would reduce part of the U.S. pressure on the Iranian regime. The Strait of Hormuz remains the main focus of tension in the conflict. Iran has partially restricted maritime traffic in the area and has imposed a toll system for ships that cross the strategic corridor through which a crucial part of the world's oil flows. Washington considers this measure unacceptable and, in turn, maintains a blockade on Iranian ports. The international concern is that the deterioration of the situation could lead to a wider closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with a direct impact on global trade and the price of energy. The tension in the Gulf has already begun to impact energy markets. The price of Brent crude – the international benchmark – has risen again and approached $100 per barrel due to fears of new disruptions in global supply. In recent days, there have been drone attacks on vessels in the region, reported by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar. Although a formal ceasefire remains in place, these incidents have fueled fears of a new military escalation. Meanwhile, the spokesman for the Iranian parliament's national security commission, Ebrahim Rezai, issued a strong warning against the United States. "As of today, our moderation ends," he said, and assured that any attack on Iranian ships would provoke a "strong and decisive" response against U.S. ships and bases. Before Trump's visit to Beijing, Baghaei suggested that China could take advantage of the summit to question the U.S. strategy in the Gulf. "Our Chinese friends know very well how to use these opportunities to warn about the consequences of the illegal and intimidating actions of the United States," he said. Pakistan seeks to mediate between Iran and the United States. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran - AFP. Meanwhile, Pakistan is trying to prevent a complete collapse of the negotiations. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met on Monday with U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Natalie A. Baker to discuss the situation and explore possible avenues for dialogue between Washington and Tehran. Agencies AP, AFP, and Reuters. War in the Middle East, Iran, Donald Trump.