The United States and Iran remained at odds on Monday (11 May) over how to end their ongoing conflict, as a fragile ceasefire faced growing pressure from renewed exchanges of fire and escalating regional tensions.
Recent days have seen attacks involving ships in the Gulf, clashes between Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, and continued military exchanges linked to the broader conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The instability has raised fears of a wider regional war and intensified concerns over global energy supplies.
At the centre of the dispute is Iran’s nuclear programme and control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas exports. Iran insists that the United States must lift its blockade and sanctions before any negotiations on its stockpile of highly enriched uranium can begin. Washington and Israel, however, demand that the uranium be removed from Iran, arguing that it could eventually be used to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran continues to maintain that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
In a social media post on Sunday (10 May), US President Donald Trump criticised Tehran’s latest proposal on Sunday, calling it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” after Iran reportedly demanded reparations, full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, the release of frozen assets, and an end to sanctions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with CBS aired on Sunday (10 May) that the conflict was “not over” and stressed that removing Iran’s nuclear material remained a key objective. He warned that if negotiations failed, Israel and the United States could “reengage them militarily.”
According to regional officials involved in the talks, Iran proposed diluting part of its uranium stockpile and transferring the remainder to a third country during a 30-day negotiation period. Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered for Russia to take custody of the material, similar to arrangements made under the 2015 nuclear agreement.
Meanwhile, Iran continued a wave of executions tied to espionage accusations. State media reported that accused suspect Erfan Shakourzadeh was executed after being convicted of spying for the CIA and Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. Iranian authorities said he had passed classified satellite communications information to foreign intelligence services.
Human rights groups have repeatedly criticised Iran’s handling of such cases, accusing authorities of conducting closed trials and limiting defendants’ ability to defend themselves.
Source: commonspace.eu with PBS
