President Trump says he cannot accept Iran’s latest proposal for making a deal to end the war and alleviate economic pressures from his blockade.
Mr. Trump said negotiators have made some progress, but he’s not sure if they can make a good deal, pointing to the “disjointed” leadership in Tehran.
“They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it,” he said as he departed the White House for Florida on Friday.
“They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to,” the president said, without elaborating on the details.
The U.S. and Israel launched a joint military operation against Iran on Feb. 28, killing top leaders and decimating the Islamic republic’s navy and military infrastructure.
Iran retaliated with strikes against Gulf nations and clamping down on oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in global economic shocks.
Mr. Trump is enforcing a blockade of Iran’s maritime ports. That’s made it difficult for Iran to export oil and get revenue.
The president hopes the economic pressure forces Iran to accept his terms for a deal. His main priority is preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“Their leaders are not getting along with each other,” Mr. Trump said. “One says one thing, one says another. They’re very confused.”
Mr. Trump is declining to seek congressional permission for his war on Iran, despite a 60-day threshold that would normally trigger the need to seek Capitol Hill approval.
The White House argues military operations ended with a ceasefire in mid-April.
