Iran Says US Reply to Peace Proposal Not Convincing, Demands Seven Conditions Be Met

Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said on Tuesday that the latest US response to Iran's peace proposal was not convincing and that Washington must fully and explicitly meet Iran's seven conditions before the Strait of Hormuz is reopened. Rezaei posted the statement on X. Iran's demands include an end to the US naval blockade of its ports, an end to economic pressure, sanctions relief, release of frozen funds and payment for war damages, and they put off talks on its nuclear and missile programs. The statement followed a letter from Vice President JD Vance to Rezaei, which Axios reported said any negotiations require discussion of the nuclear issue. Qatar, which is mediating indirect talks, said both parties remain committed and are reviewing its proposals. President Trump said Sunday he had a "very good talk" with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Axios sources said Netanyahu urged a strike. Trump has said the US may still need to hit targets such as Pickaxe Mountain and could give Tehran "the hammer."

The right-leaning New York Post leads with Rezaei's quote and frames Iran's seven points as "outlandish," saying Trump rejected the same demands last month. It highlights war-damage payments, the blockade and the sidelining of nuclear and missile talks, and omits Qatar's role. Left-leaning CBS News, in a different angle, leads with Trump's call with Netanyahu, Axios's report on Netanyahu's push for strikes, Trump's "hammer" remark, and Qatari-led indirect talks. It quotes Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and uses neutral wording. Both sides report Iran's insistence on its terms and the Hormuz issue. The alternative outlets ZeroHedge and Antiwar.com match the Rezaei focus but add Qatar's "hopeful" statement, the Vance letter and, in ZeroHedge, oil prices, tanker explosions and strikes on Qeshm Island.