Washington/Tehran, March 26: Donald Trump on Thursday said Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to signal its seriousness toward negotiations, even as Tehran termed a U.S. peace proposal “one-sided and unfair” amid the ongoing conflict.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump described the move as “a very significant prize,” indicating it reflected Iran’s willingness to engage diplomatically to end the war. However, a senior Iranian official said the U.S. 15-point proposal lacked balance, adding that “a path forward might still be found if realism prevailed in Washington.”
The conflict, which began after coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, continued to intensify with missile exchanges and airstrikes reported across the region. Sirens sounded in Israel amid incoming Iranian fire, while heavy strikes were reported in Tehran and other cities.
Israel claimed it had killed Alireza Tangsiri, a senior commander of Iran’s naval forces, though there was no immediate confirmation from Tehran.
Amid the hostilities, Iran’s Parliament is reportedly working on legislation to formalise fees on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, underscoring the strategic and economic stakes of the conflict.
Trump asserted that U.S. military operations were progressing faster than anticipated, saying the campaign was “extremely… ahead of schedule” within 26 days of a planned four-to-six-week timeline. He also warned Iran to “get serious soon, before it is too late,” cautioning that “there is no turning back.”
In a sharp remark, Trump claimed Iran was “begging” for a deal despite publicly resisting negotiations and reiterated that the country’s “first-level leadership is gone.” He also criticised NATO for not supporting U.S. efforts during the conflict.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic signals emerging alongside continued military escalation, raising uncertainty over the prospects for a negotiated resolution.
