US president Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised Iran’s approach to ongoing negotiations, saying the country “doesn’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal” and warning it to “get smart soon.”“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” Trump said through a post on Truth Social.Trump has moved to harden Washington’s posture towards Iran, reportedly directing aides to prepare for an extended blockade strategy. According to reports, the plan marks a shift from short-term coercive measures to sustained economic and military pressure aimed at limiting Iran’s regional influence. The blockade, already affecting key ports and maritime routes, is being positioned as a long-term campaign rather than a temporary measure.Speaking at a White House state dinner alongside King Charles III, Trump expressed confidence in the broader Middle East strategy, stating that the US had already “militarily defeated” its adversary. He reiterated Washington’s position that Iran would never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.Although he did not mention Tehran directly, the remarks were widely interpreted as a message to the Iranian leadership.Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly conveyed a new proposal to the United States earlier this week that focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the conflict, while deferring nuclear negotiations to a later stage.According to a report by Axios, Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi informed mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar that there is no internal consensus within Iran’s leadership on how to respond to US demands.The US has sought a suspension of uranium enrichment for at least a decade and the removal of enriched uranium from Iran. The latest proposal, conveyed through Pakistani mediators, prioritises resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade, including extending the ceasefire for a prolonged period or reaching a permanent end to the war.
