Stability ‘undermined’ in region: Iranian FM spokesperson

Iran’s proposal to end war with the US and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was legitimate and generous, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a press conference on Monday, adding that the US continues to uphold unreasonable and one-sided demands.

“Our demand is legitimate: demanding an end to the war, lifting the (US) blockade and piracy, and releasing Iranian assets that have been unjustly frozen in banks due to US pressure,” Baghaei said.

“Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and establishing security in the region and Lebanon were other demands of Iran, which are considered a generous and responsible offer for regional security.”

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said on Monday that stability and security in the region have been “undermined” during a press conference following Trump’s rejection of Tehran’s response to its proposal.

He added that the US continued to have “unreasonable demands”, adding that Iran’s response to Trump’s proposal, that Tehran sent to Pakistan yesterday, “was not excessive”.

“Whenever we are forced to fight, we will fight and whenever there is room for diplomacy, we will seize that opportunity,” Baghaei added, according to Al Jazeera.

“However, diplomacy have has its own rules. The decision will be based on our national interests and Iran has proven that we are keen on, safeguarding our people’s interests.”

European countries should ‘refrain’ from moves that would undermine their interests: Baghaei

On reports that European countries will deploy warships to the region to open the Strait of Hormuz amid rising energy prices, Iran’s FM spokesperson said Iran “clearly stated to the Europeans that they shouldn’t succumb to the US and Israeli hubris acts”, according to Al Jazeera.

“They should refrain from making any move that would undermine their interests. As I’ve said, this war is not only unethical but it is also unlawful. The US and Israel started their aggression against Iran. These European countries shouldn’t be fooled in order to get into this matter.

“Any intervention in the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf would bring about further complications. They would rather exacerbate the prices, we look forward to the world countries to act responsibly.”

China opposes US sanctions over Iran, pledges to protect firms

China voiced strong opposition on Monday to US sanctions for three China-based companies that Washington claimed enabled Iran’s military operations, calling the curbs illegal and unilateral.

“We have always required Chinese enterprises to conduct business in accordance with laws and regulations, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press briefing.

“The pressing priority is to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than using the war to maliciously associate and smear other countries.”

Trump rejects ‘unacceptable’ Iran response to peace plan

US President Donald Trump’s swift rejection of Iran’s response to a US peace proposal ​sent oil prices surging on Monday amid concerns the 10-week-old conflict will drag on, keeping shipping through the Strait of Hormuz paralyzed.

Days after the US floated ‌an offer in the hopes of re-opening negotiations, Iran on Sunday released a response focused on ending the war on all fronts, especially Lebanon, where US ally Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

Tehran also included a demand for compensation for war damage and emphasised Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state TV said.

It also called on the US to end its naval blockade, guarantee no further attacks, lift sanctions and end a US ban ​on Iranian oil sales, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said.

Within hours, Trump dismissed Iran’s proposal with a post on social media.

“I don’t like it — TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,” Trump wrote ​on Truth Social, without giving further detail.

Read: Trump rejects ‘unacceptable’ Iranian terms

The US had proposed an end to fighting before starting talks on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.

Oil ⁠prices jumped more than $4 a barrel on Monday following news of the continued stalemate that leaves the narrow Strait of Hormuz largely closed. Before the war began on February 28, the waterway carried one-fifth ​of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows, and has emerged as one of the central pressure points in the war.

“The oil market continues to trade like a geopolitical headline machine, with ​prices swinging sharply based on every comment, rejection, or warning coming from Washington and Tehran,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.

According to Tasnim, Iran executed Erfan Shokurzadeh after he was convicted of collaborating with the US’ CIA and Israel’s Mossad.

Some tankers transit Strait

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, an Iraqi crude oil-laden Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz via Iran’s designated maritime route on Sunday.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is at a trickle compared to before the war, but shipping data on Kpler and LSEG showed three tankers laden with crude exited the waterway last week, with trackers switched off to avoid Iranian attack.

Surveys show the war is unpopular with ​US voters facing sharply higher gasoline prices less than six months before nationwide elections that will determine whether Trump’s Republican party retains control of Congress.

The US has also found little international support, with ​NATO allies refusing calls to send ships to open the Strait of Hormuz without a full peace deal and an internationally mandated mission.

It is not clear what fresh diplomatic or military steps may be ahead.

Trump ‌is expected to ⁠arrive in Beijing on Wednesday. With mounting pressure to draw a line under the war and the global energy crisis it has ignited, Iran is among the topics Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to discuss.

Trump has been leaning on China to use its influence to push Tehran to make a deal with Washington.

Addressing whether combat operations against Iran were over, Trump said in remarks aired on Sunday: “They are defeated, but that doesn’t mean they’re done.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war was not over because there was “more work to be done” to remove enriched ​uranium from Iran, dismantle enrichment sites and address ​Iran’s proxies and ballistic missile capabilities.

The best ⁠way to remove the enriched uranium would be through diplomacy, Netanyahu said in an interview that aired Sunday on CBS News’ “60 Minutes.” But he did not rule out removing it by force.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a social media post that Iran would “never bow down to the enemy” ​and would “defend national interests with strength.”

Despite diplomatic efforts to break a deadlock, the threat to shipping lanes and the economies of the region ​remained high.

Recent days have ⁠seen the biggest flare-ups in fighting in and around the strait since a ceasefire began in early April.

On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted two drones coming from Iran, while Qatar condemned a drone attack that hit a cargo ship coming from Abu Dhabi in its waters. Kuwait said its air defences had dealt with hostile drones that entered its airspace.

Clashes have also continued in southern Lebanon between ⁠Israel and ​Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire announced on April 16.

An end to hostilities with Iran would not ​necessarily bring an end to the war in Lebanon, Netanyahu said in the “60 Minutes” interview, in which he also said Israeli planners had underestimated Iran’s ability to choke off traffic through the Hormuz Strait.

“It took a while for them to ​understand how big that risk is, which they understand now,” he said.