U.S. Responds to Iranian Peace Proposal Amid Skepticism from Trump

The United States has formally responded to a three-phase counterproposal from Iran aimed at de-escalating the ongoing regional conflict. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed on May 3 that Tehran is currently evaluating the American reply. The Iranian plan seeks a "complete end to the war" within 30 days, mutual non-aggression guarantees involving Israel and the Axis of Resistance, and the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has expressed significant reservations regarding the proposal, stating on social media that the plan fails to account for 47 years of Iranian activities. Despite these diplomatic back-channels, rhetoric remains tense; the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently declared that the U.S. is trapped between accepting a "bad deal" or attempting an "impossible" military operation. On the economic front, the maritime standoff continues to severely impact global markets. With the U.S. naval blockade and Iranian interference in the Strait of Hormuz ongoing, oil prices remain approximately 50% higher than pre-war levels. While Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated Iran is prepared for both diplomacy and confrontation, no new military kinetic actions or additional sanctions have been reported in the last 24 hours.