Why has Trump rejected Iran’s peace proposal?

Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for global trade and energy shipments, but the offer was met with an immediate rebuke from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the plan "unacceptable." Tehran says it has not yet received a definitive answer and is waiting for Washington to respond through intermediaries. The contrasting accounts underscore persistent mistrust between the two governments. Trump has publicly framed Iran as needing an agreement because, he stated, the country is "losing badly," language that signals pressure rather than accommodation. Separately, reports indicate the president has threatened to resume strikes on Iran, a posture that would raise the stakes for any diplomatic engagement if acted upon. Those comments suggest the U.S. response is being used to extract concessions or to maintain leverage. Analysts and former diplomats debated the motives and risks around the exchange on a broadcast segment of Inside Story. Guests included Abas Aslani, a senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies; former U.S. diplomat Ambassador Henry Ensher; and Zeidon Alkinani, founding director of the Arab Perspectives Institute. The conversation examined whether Washington's rejection aims to push Tehran toward more favorable terms or reflects deeper strategic priorities. The immediate diplomatic outcome is unclear: Tehran says it remains ready to await mediators' channels, while Washington's public stance indicates continued resistance to the proposal as presented. Given the Strait of Hormuz's strategic importance, the dispute highlights how individual statements and reported threats can influence regional security dynamics and the prospects for negotiated solutions.