Daniel Wolfram
According to the US, Iran wants billions in reparations before making a deal. Iran says it wants peace, but is ready for a “doomsday war.”
Donald Trump and the White House have firmly rejected a recent peace proposal from Tehran.
The United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected the peace offer because Iranian officials “were asking for everything up front” before committing to actual negotiations, according to The Guardian.
Not acting in good faith
The US wants Iran to stop attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The US has used an economic blockade to try to pressure the Iranians, but the leaders in Tehran demand relief “from billions and billions of sanctions that are going into place” before taking further steps in the peace process.
Waltz was on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday and said that in the eyes of the US, the Iranians did not try to act in good faith regarding their proposal. He added, “The president is just not confident that the Iranians are coming in good faith and that we will truly negotiate the end of their nuclear program.”
Trump echoed that view, telling Axios on Sunday once again that Iran wants to make a deal, “but it is not the deal that I want to make.” The president added: “They overplayed their hand.”
Ready for a ‘doomsday war’
Iranian officials maintain that diplomacy remains their end goal, while keeping military readiness if the US were to resume airstrikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media that “only a negotiated solution can get them out of this deadlock.”
However, Araghchi warned on NBC that Iran will not back down if pressure continues. “We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed,” he said, adding that Iran stands ready for “a doomsday war” if provoked.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told CBS that his country seeks no conflict but will defend itself against threats. He stressed that Iran will not accept “bullying or coercion.”
China enters the war
Meanwhile, Waltz dismissed reports from The Wall Street Journal that Washington plans to resume bombing in the Middle East after the midterm elections are concluded, but stressed that Trump will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.
He also noted that Trump raised concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping over reports that Beijing has helped Iran during its war against the US.
Waltz’s comments on State of the Union on Sunday echo the remarks Trump made Friday.
When asked if he and President Xi had talked about Iran during his official visit to the White House, Trump replied, “We did. I think we’re going to do great,” without providing any further details.
