Trump optimistically predicts an agreement, but Iran has not responded to the two key points raised by the US.

Author: Xiao Yanyan, Jinshi Data

Iran said on Wednesday that it is reviewing a peace proposal put forward by the United States. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the proposal would formally end the current war, but the two core demands of the United States—that Iran suspend its nuclear program and reopen the Strait of Hormuz—remain unresolved.

According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), citing a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Tehran will convey its response. US President Donald Trump said he believes Iran wants to reach an agreement.

“They want to reach an agreement. We’ve had very good conversations in the last 24 hours, and we are very likely to reach an agreement,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

According to CCTV News, Trump stated that he is optimistic about reaching a framework agreement with Iran, believing it "has the potential to yield results." When asked about the specific timeframe (for reaching an agreement), Trump estimated it would take "a week." In an interview that day, Trump expressed optimism about the prospects of an agreement between the US and Iran, stating that a possible agreement would include Iran shipping its highly enriched uranium to the US. Trump said he felt the US was getting closer to an agreement, adding, "I think the chances of reaching an agreement are very high," and that it's possible the two sides could reach an agreement next week to end the war. But he also threatened, “If they don’t agree, then we’ll bomb them.” When asked if a possible agreement included Iran transferring its highly enriched uranium out of the country, perhaps to the United States, Trump replied, “Yes, not ‘perhaps,’ it will be sent to the United States.” Trump also said that Iran would pledge not to operate underground nuclear facilities and would “adhere to this arrangement in good faith for a considerable period of time.” When pressed on whether he had received a deadline for Iran’s response to the latest U.S. proposal, Trump hinted that the timeframe was open. “There is never a deadline. This will happen. It will happen, but there will never be a deadline,” he said. “We are in a good position. We are doing very well now, and we must get what we have to get. If we don’t do this, we will have to go further. But that being said, they still want to make a deal.” Trump reiterated that Iran had agreed to his primary demand: not possessing nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he and Donald Trump agreed that all enriched uranium must be removed from Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. It's worth noting that earlier that day, Trump expressed a more pessimistic view of the prospects for an agreement. He threatened to restart US bombing operations against Iran on Real Social Media and described the possibility of Iran agreeing to the latest US proposal as a "very hypothetical." Trump has repeatedly declared that a deal to end the war that began on February 28 has been reached, but so far, no agreement has been achieved. The two sides remain divided on many thorny issues, including Iran's nuclear ambitions and its control of the Strait of Hormuz. He is seeking a way out of this conflict that has caused soaring energy prices and damaged his political standing. Trump said he was surprised the war with Iran hadn't driven up oil prices as much as expected, but that even if prices reached $200 a barrel, the conflict would be worthwhile. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said, "I thought oil prices would go up to $200, $250. You were all surprised, and I was surprised too. But even if oil prices go up to $200, this war would be worthwhile." The American Automobile Association (AAA) said Wednesday that U.S. gasoline prices had broken through $4.50 a gallon, the highest level since July 2022. A source familiar with the matter said Iran is expected to respond within the next two days through mediator Pakistan. Meanwhile, Iranian state media said that some aspects of the U.S. proposal were still too demanding and unrealistic for Iran. Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the parliamentary committee on foreign policy and national security, described the current text as "more like an American wish list than reality." "In a war they are losing, the Americans won't get anything they can't get in face-to-face negotiations," he wrote on social media.