Ammon News - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he was not satisfied with the latest Iranian proposal for ​talks on the Iran war, while Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if the United States changes its approach.

Trump's comments indicated the deadlock over the ‌two-month-old war is likely to persist, even as he looks to end a conflict that remains deeply unpopular among Americans.

Meanwhile, U.S. relations with its traditional allies were further strained over Iran on Friday, as the United States announced it was withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany. Trump had threatened a drawdown over differences with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on Monday the Iranians were humiliating the United States and that the Americans lacked an exit strategy.

A senior Pentagon official, speaking on ​condition of anonymity, said recent German comments were "inappropriate and unhelpful."

"The president is rightly reacting to these counterproductive remarks," the official said.

It was unclear what the Iranians had submitted in their ​fresh proposal. Iran's Foreign Ministry has cautioned against expecting quick results.

"They want to make a deal, but ... I'm not satisfied with it," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the Iranian leadership ​was "very disjointed" and split into two or three groups.

"They're asking for things that I can't agree to," he said, adding that negotiations by phone were continuing.

Later on Friday, during a speech in Florida, Trump said the United States would not end its confrontation with Iran early "and then have the problem arise in three more years."

Trump has said Iran would not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. He is also under pressure to break Iran's hold ​on the strait, which has choked off 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies.

Global oil prices eased on Friday following news of the Iranian proposal, coming off Thursday's four-year high. Benchmark Brent crude ​was down 1% to around $109.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his country was ready to pursue diplomacy if the United States changes what he called its "excessive approach, threatening rhetoric and provocative actions."

However, Araqchi added in a post ‌on his ⁠Telegram channel that "Iran's armed forces remained ready to defend the country against any threat."

Iran has activated air defenses and plans a wide response if attacked, having assessed that there will be a short, intensive U.S. strike, possibly followed by an Israeli attack, two senior Iranian sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

REPORTS ON PLANS FOR NEW STRIKES
Separately, Trump told leaders in Congress that he did not need their permission to extend the war beyond a Friday deadline set by law because the ceasefire had "terminated" hostilities.

"Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do ​we want to try and make a deal?" ​Trump said when asked about his options.

Trump ⁠added that "on a human basis," he did not prefer the military course of action.

The war, which began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has led to the deaths of thousands of people. The closure of the strait has increased concerns about the possibility of a wider ​global economic downturn.


Reuters