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Iran said Saturday that the United States must decide whether to pursue diplomacy or continue confrontation, as a senior Iranian military officer warned that renewed fighting with the U.S. was “likely.”
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told diplomats in Tehran that “the ball is in the United States’ court to choose the path of diplomacy or the continuation of a confrontational approach.”
Iran, he said, was “prepared for both paths.”
Mohammad Jafar Asadi, a senior figure in Iran’s military central command, said a renewed conflict with the U.S. was possible, according to remarks published by Iran’s Fars news agency.
“At this moment, I’m not satisfied with what they’re offering,” Trump told reporters, referring to Iran’s latest negotiating proposal.
On Saturday morning, Asadi said “a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is likely.”
“Evidence has shown that the United States is not committed to any promises or agreements,” he added.
Iran delivered a new draft proposal to mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening, state media reported. The contents of the draft were not detailed.
The war, launched by the United States and Israel in late February, has been on hold since April 8. One failed round of peace talks has taken place in Pakistan.
Trump said stalled talks were linked to “tremendous discord” within Iran’s leadership.
He said the decision he faced was whether to “just blast the hell out of them” or “try and make a deal.”
Trump added that he would rather not choose the first option.
Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said Friday that Tehran had “never shied away from negotiations,” but would not accept the “imposition” of peace terms.
The White House declined to provide details about Iran’s latest proposal.
News site Axios reported that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff had submitted amendments to a previous proposal that put Tehran’s nuclear program back on the negotiating table.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations pointed to the United States’ large nuclear arsenal and accused Washington of “hypocritical behaviour” toward Iran’s atomic program.
It said there was no legal “restriction on the level of uranium enrichment, so long as it is conducted under the IAEA’s supervision, as was the case with Iran.”
News of Iran’s new proposal briefly pushed oil prices down nearly 5%, though prices remain about 50% above pre-war levels as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
Iran has maintained control over the strait since the war began, restricting major flows of oil, gas and fertilizer to the global economy.
The United States has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports.
Speaking at a rally Friday, Trump said “we’re like pirates” while describing an earlier helicopter raid on an oil tanker under the blockade.
Ali Nikzad, vice speaker of Iran’s parliament, said Iran would not “relinquish our rights in the Strait of Hormuz.”
He said “the movement of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz will not be the same as before.”
Nikzad said legislation before parliament to manage the waterway would allocate 30% of collected tolls to military infrastructure, with the rest directed to “economic development.”
“Managing the Strait of Hormuz is more important than acquiring nuclear weapons,” he said.
Despite the ceasefire in the Gulf, fighting has continued in Lebanon.
Israel has carried out deadly strikes despite a separate truce with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.
Lebanese state media reported a new series of strikes in the south on Saturday, while Hezbollah claimed new attacks targeting Israeli troops.
In Washington, lawmakers were debating whether Trump had breached a deadline to seek congressional approval for the war.
Administration officials say the ceasefire pauses a 60-day limit after which congressional authorization would be required. Opposition Democrats dispute that claim.
“There has been no exchange of fire between United States Forces and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump said in letters to congressional leaders.
He said hostilities “have terminated.”
Iran’s economy is under growing pressure from the war, with oil exports restricted and inflation rising above 50%.
“Everyone is trying to endure it, but... they are falling apart,” Amir, a 40-year-old Tehran resident, told an AFP reporter based outside the country.
“We still have not seen much of the economic effects because everyone had a bit of savings. They had some gold and dollars for a rainy day. When they run out, things will change,” he said.
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