Iran’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that its response to the latest U.S. proposal includes demands for an end to regional warfare and the immediate release of frozen assets held abroad. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei clarified during a weekly briefing that Tehran is not seeking concessions but rather its “legitimate rights.”
According to Baqaei, the core requirements involve stopping the war in the region, lifting the U.S. naval blockade, and returning assets belonging to the Iranian people that have been “unjustly trapped” in foreign banks for years.
This statement follows a sharp reaction from U.S. President Donald Trump, who rejected Iran’s response on Sunday, labeling it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!”
Tehran has issued warnings to European nations regarding their involvement in the ongoing Gulf tensions.
Baqaei stated that any interference in the Strait of Hormuz would only further complicate the current crisis. While Britain and France are exploring an international coalition to secure the waterway, they have indicated such a move would only occur after a peace deal is reached between the U.S. and Iran.
This comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio continues to urge European allies to assist in securing the key maritime route.
During the same briefing, the foreign ministry dismissed reports of a significant oil leak near Kharg Island. Despite satellite imagery appearing to show an oil slick off the coast, Baqaei called the claims “entirely fabricated.”
He redirected the blame for environmental concerns in the Gulf toward the presence of U.S. forces in the region, stating that Tehran remains highly concerned about environmental harm.