President Trump said Sunday that U.S. officials are likely to hold further discussions with Iranian negotiators this week, after he flatly rejected a seven-day ceasefire proposal from Tehran. Speaking to Axios, Trump indicated that while Iran appears eager to reach an agreement, the terms currently on the table fall short of what he would accept.
“I expect more talks with Iran [this week]. They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make,” Trump said. “It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand.” The president’s remarks came as the conflict approaches its seventh month, with the White House weighing further military action against the Islamic Republic.
On Saturday, Trump publicly turned down the Iranian proposal, telling reporters that negotiators from Tehran had offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz “immediately” as part of the ceasefire. The waterway, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has seen restricted traffic due to Iranian military maneuvers, sending Brent crude prices above $107 per barrel on Monday.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine, I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said. The president’s stance was echoed by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and accused Iran of seeking “everything up front” in exchange for a short-term pause in hostilities.
Waltz also suggested that Tehran is “miscalculating” the political pressures on Trump, including the upcoming midterm elections, which could influence his decision-making on the war. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed such calculations, telling NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Iranian officials “don’t care” about the U.S. electoral calendar.
“We don’t care about any other things. We care about our national interests,” Araghchi said. “We are ready to negotiate as much as we are ready to face any challenge.” He added, “We stand firm in the face of any aggression against us, even if it comes to a doomsday war. At the same time, we are ready for diplomacy.”
The diplomatic standoff comes as Trump continues to face scrutiny over his handling of the conflict, with some lawmakers warning of potential political fallout. The president’s decision to reject the ceasefire drew criticism from those who see diplomacy as the preferred path, while hawks argue that any deal must include stringent conditions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program or expanding its regional influence.
Meanwhile, the economic stakes remain high, with oil prices surging and global markets jittery. The White House has not ruled out additional sanctions or military strikes, and Trump said he is “always thinking” about resuming operations against Iranian targets.
As the war enters its seventh month, the coming week could prove pivotal. U.S. and Iranian negotiators are expected to meet again, though the gap between their positions appears wide. For now, Trump’s message is clear: he is open to talks, but only on his terms.
