President Donald Trump said Saturday that he was reviewing a new offer from the Iranian regime to end the war, but offered little optimism that the proposal would succeed.
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“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” the president wrote in a Truth Social post.
Shortly before the post went live, Trump responded to questions from reporters on the tarmac at Palm Beach International Airport about the negotiations. The president said he would let reporters know whether he accepted or rejected the Iranian offer soon.
On Friday, Trump had said he was “not satisfied” with the proposal, but said Saturday he would examine its details further.
“They told me about the concept of the deal,” Trump said. “They’re going to give me the exact wording now.”
Iran’s latest proposal would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade, while pushing off talks on Iran’s nuclear programs for later.
Trump’s comments come as he weighs how to proceed in the weeks-long standoff. Military officials briefed him Thursday on options for the Strait of Hormuz and on the ground in Iran. Trump has left open the possibility of resuming strikes.
“Do we want to go and just blast the Hell out of them and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal. Those are the options,” Trump told reporters Friday, adding he would “prefer not” to resume strikes.
Iran’s proposal to open the Gulf to some ships comes after it has blocked essentially all shipping, except its own, from the Gulf for more than two months. The U.S. has also enforced its own blockade of the Strait since April 13.
Trump on Saturday called the U.S. blockade “friendly,” telling reporters “Nobody’s even challenging it.”
The U.S. Navy is using more than 100 fighters and surveillance aircraft, two carrier strike groups and more than a dozen ships to enforce its blockade on Iran. Last month, a Navy destroyer seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that had attempted to break through the blockade.
Trump’s comments come amid increased pressure from Capitol Hill to seek approval for the conflict. Trump has insisted that because a temporary ceasefire went into effect on April 8, he does not need Congress’ authorization to continue military operations in Iran.
According to the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president must seek authorization for war from Congress after a military operation reaches its 60th day in action. The U.S. military operations in Iran reached that mark earlier this week.
The Senate voted for a sixth time Thursday to reject a War Powers resolution that would end military operations in Iran until Congress votes to approve them.
The resolution failed by a vote of 47-50, with all Senate Democrats, with the exception of Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, voting in favor of the measure. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Rand Paul of Kentucky broke with their party to vote ‘yes’ on the resolution.
