U.S. Rejects Iranian Maritime Proposal Lacking Nuclear Commitments

The Trump administration has signaled its formal rejection of a proposal from Tehran aimed at ending the current conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal, delivered via Pakistani mediators, offered to restore maritime access in exchange for the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. However, U.S. officials indicated on April 28 that the deal is unacceptable because it fails to address Iran’s nuclear program or the removal of highly enriched uranium (HEU). Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized in recent statements that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains the "core issue" of the administration's strategy. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Trump has consulted with national security aides, reaffirming the U.S. demand for both freedom of navigation and verified nuclear de-escalation before any economic relief is granted. On the ground, Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recovered more than 15 unexploded U.S. missiles near Bandar Abbas. Iranian officials claim the ordnance has been transferred to research facilities for reverse engineering. While the recovery is linked to the ongoing U.S. and Israeli air campaigns in the region, there have been no reports of new military escalations within the last 24 hours.