President Trump indicated on Sunday that U.S. and Iranian negotiators are likely to resume discussions this week, even as he dismissed a seven-day ceasefire proposal from Tehran as inadequate. In a phone interview with Axios, Trump said, “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.” He added, “It is what we would have maybe agreed to a year ago. They overplayed their hand.”
The president's remarks come as the conflict approaches its seventh month, with Monday marking that milestone. He did not rule out renewed military action, saying he is “always thinking” about resuming strikes on Iranian targets.
On Saturday, Trump publicly rejected the Iranian proposal, telling reporters that Tehran’s negotiators “want to make a deal where they open” the Strait of Hormuz “immediately.” The waterway has been a flashpoint, with Iranian restrictions disrupting global oil shipments. Iran's foreign minister has warned that Tehran is “fully prepared” for war if new strikes are authorized.
The standoff has sent energy prices soaring, with Brent crude trading above $107 per barrel Monday, a level that adds pressure to the global economy. Trump's schedule includes the Presidents Cup this week, but the Iran crisis is expected to dominate his agenda.
White House officials echoed the president's skepticism. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said the Iranians sought “everything up front” in exchange for a short-term truce. Waltz also suggested Tehran is “miscalculating” Trump’s political considerations, particularly with the midterm elections looming. Waltz noted that Iran had demanded full sanctions relief before the ceasefire was rejected.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, dismissed any notion that U.S. electoral politics factor into Tehran’s calculations. “We don’t care about any other things. We care about our national interests,” Araghchi told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” He added, “We are ready to negotiate as much as we are ready to face any challenge.”
Araghchi struck a defiant tone, warning that Iran would “stand firm in the face of any aggression against us, even if it comes to a doomsday war.” Yet he also left the door open for diplomacy, saying, “At the same time, we are ready for diplomacy.”
The back-and-forth underscores the fragile state of U.S.-Iran relations, with both sides signaling a willingness to talk but disagreeing sharply on terms. Trump’s rejection of the ceasefire suggests he is holding out for a more comprehensive agreement, while Tehran appears unwilling to concede major points without substantial relief.
Analysts say the coming week could be pivotal, as diplomatic channels remain open but military options stay on the table. The president’s “maximum pressure” approach, combined with Iran’s economic vulnerabilities, may push both sides toward a negotiated settlement, though the path remains uncertain.
