By PTI — Washington (Updated May 11, 2026)
President Donald Trump dismissed a peace proposal from Iran on Sunday, calling the response “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE” on his Truth Social platform and telling Axios he found the letter “inappropriate.” The proposal arrived amid hopes that talks could end the conflict that began on February 28 and had disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil.
Trump, who spoke to reporters flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a White House briefing, accused Tehran of “playing games” with the United States for decades. “They will be laughing no longer,” he said, and added that he did not want to elaborate on the Iranian response.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham urged the administration to consider military options after the rejection. In a post on X, Graham said he appreciated Trump’s diplomatic efforts but argued that Iran’s “totally unacceptable response” — combined with persistent attacks on international shipping and regional allies — justified a change in course. He specifically referenced “Project Freedom Plus,” a naval operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz that Trump previously suspended after less than 48 hours.
Trump also said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday about the response and other matters, calling the call “very nice” and noting a close relationship. He added that the negotiation is “my situation, not everybody else’s.”
U.S. negotiators have pressed Iran to make a clear commitment to end its uranium enrichment program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions and the release of billions in frozen funds. Talks have also involved steps to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blamed for fuel shortages in several countries.
Fighting between the sides paused after a ceasefire agreement on April 8, but a durable peace deal has not yet been reached. The latest exchange of proposals and its blunt public rejection by the U.S. president underscore how difficult concluding a final agreement remains, even as global energy markets and regional security concerns add urgency to a diplomatic outcome.
