US Ambassador Mike Waltz told CNN on Sunday that the United States rejected Iran’s proposal to end the war because Iranian negotiators “were asking for everything up front.” Waltz said Iran wanted relief “from billions and billions of sanctions that are going into place” as part of an economic blockade on Iran, aimed at pressuring Iran to stop attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Waltz’s Reason for Rejection
According to Waltz, the United States declined the proposal due to “they were asking for everything up front with a promise that they would then talk,” with the president described as “just not confident that the Iranians are coming in good faith and that we will truly negotiate the end of their nuclear program.” Before, Waltz referred to the collapsed MOU between the US and Iran, which was inked in Pakistan in June and established a 14-point framework for a negotiated settlement. According to Waltz, Iran “immediately violated it by attacking international shipping, in violation of international law, and 146 nations have joined us in condemning Iran for those attacks.”
Trump’s Own Words on Iran
Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected Iran’s peace plan, proposed at the recent UN general assembly in New York, arguing that desperation was driving the Iranians’ push for an agreement on the key waterway. He made the remark that “They want to make a deal to open the Hormuz strait immediately because they’re losing so badly.” He also claimed the US was “winning tremendously” and had “total control of the Hormuz strait.”
Araghchi’s War Warning
In comments to NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said his country is prepared to resume fighting with the US but has not yet abandoned diplomacy after Trump rejected Iran’s peace proposal. “We are fully prepared for the war to be resumed,” Araghchi said. “We stand firm in the face of any new aggression, even if it comes to a doomsday war. At the same time, we stand ready for diplomacy. It is up to President Trump to choose.”
Pezeshkian’s Conditions
In a sit-down with CBS’s Face the Nation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his nation stands prepared to hold talks on its nuclear program and a host of other matters. He made the remarks during the interview, and he also made clear that Iran would not accept “bullying or coercion.” “Iran is not seeking war, but will defend itself against pressure, threats and attacks,” Pezeshkian said, adding that it had already agreed that “we’re not supposed to develop nuclear weapons.”
China’s Role
During his appearance on CNN, Waltz addressed reports that China had aided Iran in the targeting of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on US military bases in the region. He did not confirm the leaked intelligence assessments, but he noted that President Trump had brought up the matter with Chinese premier Xi Jinping during Xi’s recent state visit to Washington DC. Trump had also done so “multiple times” previously, including during his visit to China in May, according to Waltz. “I think we have seen movement in a positive direction,” Waltz said. “President Trump has made it clear it’s unacceptable.” Waltz said the US and China had “agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.” “They cannot and should not be tolling, much less attacking, international shipping in an international waterway,” Waltz said. “So I think that was incredibly important to hear from President Xi coming out of the summit.”
Waltz Rejects Bombing Reports
The Wall Street Journal reported that the US would resume bombing Iran after the federal midterm elections in November, and Waltz rejected it.
The Two Sides
| Point | US Position | Iranian Position |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Proposal | Rejected due to lack of good faith | Proposed, citing desperation |
| Nuclear Program | Not confident Iran is negotiating in good faith | Ready for talks, rejects bullying |
| Hormuz Strait | Total control, winning | Open if conditions met |
| China’s Role | Raised with Xi Jinping | Not confirmed by Iran |
Waltz argues that Iran is not negotiating in good faith, while Araghchi insists his nation is fully prepared for war even as it remains open to diplomacy. The two positions stand apart from one another.
Where the paper stands
The paper backs neither side’s stated position on the proposal and instead backs keeping the channels open for diplomacy and compromise, wary of foreign entanglements while avoiding trade wars. Waltz’s rejection of Iran’s offer, based on demands for upfront concessions, and Trump’s dismissal of the peace plan both close doors before diplomacy has had a chance to work. The paper prefers patience and negotiation over escalation, and it wants the US to stay engaged rather than walk away.
The standoff shows the danger of closing off diplomatic paths entirely. Both sides speak in absolutes, but the paper believes compromise is possible and worth pursuing. What matters most is keeping the channels open so that when conditions change, the door to negotiation remains unlocked.
Readers should watch for signs that either side softens its stance. The paper will continue to cover these developments closely, always with the goal of keeping the peace process alive.
Source material: “UN ambassador Waltz says Iran was not negotiating ‘in good faith’ to end war,” The Guardian.
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