Efforts to end the Iran conflict have hit a roadblock, with US President Donald Trump expressing dissatisfaction with Tehran's latest proposal. Trump claims Iran has informed the US that it is in a 'state of collapse' and is struggling to determine its leadership situation.
The Iranian proposal, which was carried by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to Islamabad over the weekend, suggests that the nuclear issue be set aside until the conflict is concluded and disputes over shipping are resolved.
However, Trump wants nuclear issues to be addressed from the outset, a stance that has put the two sides at odds. The US has been clear about its 'red lines' in the negotiations, but the conflict remains unresolved, with thousands of lives lost and global trade routes disrupted.
The killing of senior Iranian political and military figures in US-Israeli strikes has hardened Tehran's negotiating stance, with hardline commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps gaining more power.
As the conflict drags on, Trump faces domestic pressure to end the war, with his approval ratings falling. The US has been blockading Iranian ships since the war began in February, and Iran has largely blocked all shipping apart from its own from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.
