Iran Peace Talks Stall as Trump Faces Pressure Over Hormuz and War Deadline

US President Donald Trump and his national security team are reviewing Iran’s latest peace proposal aimed at ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and delaying direct negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, where he described relations between Tehran and Moscow as a “strategic partnership” and said Iran is considering a US request to restart broader negotiations.

Putin said the Iranian people were fighting “courageously and heroically” for their sovereignty and stressed that Russia was ready to help efforts to restore peace in the Middle East. Araghchi thanked Moscow for its support, saying ties between the two countries would continue to grow “regardless of what is happening.” Tehran also said the minister’s visit was meant to brief Russian officials on ceasefire discussions with Washington and wider regional developments.

Despite diplomatic contacts, major disagreements remain between Washington and Tehran. The US wants Iran to fully halt its nuclear program, while Iran insists that any restrictions must be temporary. Trump is also demanding US control over Iran’s stockpile of around 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, a condition Tehran has rejected. Iran, meanwhile, is demanding sanctions relief, the release of 20 billion dollars in frozen assets, and nearly 270 billion dollars in war reparations for damage caused by US and Israeli strikes.

Another key dispute remains the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says shipping restrictions will stay in place until the US lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, while Trump insists the blockade will continue until a full agreement is reached. Tehran has also resisted US demands to scale back support for regional allies such as Hezbollah and Hamas and to limit its ballistic missile program.

The United Nations and dozens of countries have called for the immediate reopening of the strait. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the maritime standoff could trigger a global food crisis. Around 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard hundreds of vessels, including oil tankers and cargo ships, unable to safely pass through one of the world’s most important shipping routes.

Normally, about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passes through Hormuz. Maritime traffic has dropped sharply, from more than 130 vessel crossings per day before the war to around 80 in mid-April. Several ships have been attacked, at least 10 seafarers have been killed, and Iran has reportedly fired on ships and seized two vessels. Captain Arunkumar Rajendran described the situation by saying, “Seafarers are the backbone of global trade, yet we are often the most affected by regional geopolitical conflicts.”

The International Maritime Organization warned that there is currently no truly safe transit through the strait due to mine threats and attacks. Trump said US forces were clearing sea mines and declared that boats laying explosives would be met with force. Although Iran has said the route is open to vessels it considers non-hostile, most shipping remains heavily disrupted.

The economic consequences are spreading quickly. Brent crude prices have continued rising, reaching 108.68 dollars per barrel, while supply disruptions are affecting global industries. Reuters reported that printed circuit board prices surged by up to 40 percent in April after an Iranian strike hit Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex, disrupting the supply of a key chemical used in electronics production.

Inside the United States, Trump is also facing domestic political pressure. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, he must secure congressional approval by May 1 to continue military operations against Iran or begin winding them down. Democrats in the Senate are pushing another vote to limit what they call Trump’s “war of choice,” while even former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the conflict, warning it would hurt American farmers and increase fertilizer costs.

At the same time, tensions remain high in Lebanon. Israel says it has destroyed more than 1,000 Hezbollah military sites in the south, including weapons depots and fortified buildings. Israeli strikes and shelling continue across southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah drone attacks have wounded Israeli soldiers. Since the April ceasefire attempt, at least 40 people have reportedly been killed in Lebanon, showing how fragile the wider regional truce remains.