TEHRAN (Realist English). US President Donald Trump has called Iran’s response to the latest American peace proposal “unacceptable”, triggering a fresh spike in global oil prices. For its part, Iran demanded an immediate end to the war on all fronts, the lifting of sanctions, and the transfer of control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on the situation, said the conflict with Iran was “not over”.
Iran’s response: a four‑point ultimatum
On 10 May, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency, Tehran handed its official reply to the US plan for settling the two‑month war to Pakistan (acting as mediator). Early on 11 May, President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform:
“I have just read the response of the so‑called ‘representatives’ of Iran. I don’t like it – COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!”.
Trump gave no details. However, the Iranian Tasnim agency (close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), citing an unnamed official, disclosed the key points of Iran’s reply:
- Immediate cessation of the war with guarantees that aggression against Iran will not resume.
- Ending the war on all fronts – a clear reference to Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Hezbollah.
- Lifting US sanctions, including a 30‑day pause in oil restrictions with the release of frozen Iranian assets.
- Transfer to Iran of control over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the naval blockade.
According to Tasnim, the Iranian side did not mention the nuclear programme in its reply – something Washington considers the central issue in the talks.
Oil market under tension
Trump’s statement immediately affected prices. In Asian trading, Brent crude jumped 3.7% to 105.01 abarrel. US West Texas Intermediate rose 3.899.05 a barrel.
Analysts linked the surge to warnings from US officials that a breakdown in negotiations could lead to a resumption of full‑scale hostilities.
Kevin Book, head of research at ClearView Energy Partners, commented: “ ‘Completely unacceptable’ translates into moderately bullish sentiment. If the sides move toward kinetic engagement and talks do not resume, prices could go much higher.”
Israel: “The conflict is not over”
Iran’s demand to end the war “on all fronts” came on the same day that CBS’s “60 Minutes” released excerpts of an interview with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli leader stated that the conflict with Iran was “not over” and noted that Iran had not yet abandoned the materials that Israel fears could one day be used to build a nuclear weapon.
Trump, commenting on Iran’s response, also lashed out at Tehran, recalling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015: “For 47 years the Iranians have been ‘tapping’ us along, keeping us waiting, killing our people with their roadside bombs, destroying protests, and recently wiping out 42,000 innocent, unarmed protestors, and laughing at our now GREAT AGAIN Country. They will be laughing no longer!”.
Iran’s response has effectively pushed the talks into a dead end. Tehran’s demand to manage the Strait of Hormuz and to end the war on all fronts (including Lebanon) is clearly unacceptable to Washington. At the same time, Israel, feeling Trump’s support, is preparing for further escalation. Oil prices will remain under pressure from military risks, while the diplomatic window of opportunity is rapidly closing.