Iran Asserts It Will Not Submit After Trump Rejects Peace Proposal

The conflict in the Middle East has intensified again after US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s counter-proposal to end the war that has lasted for 10 weeks. Trump described the offer from Tehran as “entirely unacceptable” and reaffirmed Washington’s hardline stance towards Iran. “I just read the response from what is so-called the ‘Representative’ of Iran. I don’t like it — ENTIRELY UNACCEPTABLE!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday (10/5/2026). Iranian state media portrayed Tehran’s response as a rejection of the US proposal, which it viewed as a demand to “surrender”. In its counter-proposal, Iran requested war compensation, full sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions, and the release of Iran’s frozen assets. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian emphasised that his country would not submit to pressure from its enemies. “We will never bow our heads before the enemy. If there is talk of dialogue or negotiation, it does not mean surrender or retreat,” Pezeshkian wrote on platform X. In an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes” programme, Netanyahu stated that Iran has not handed over its enriched uranium nor dismantled its enrichment facilities. He also accused Iran of continuing to support proxy groups in the region and developing its ballistic missile programme. A Wall Street Journal report indicated that Iran rejected US demands regarding its nuclear programme and stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Instead, Tehran proposed separate negotiations and offered to dilute some of its highly enriched uranium and transfer the rest to a third country. However, Iran requested that the uranium be returned if Washington withdraws from the agreement in the future. The US wants guarantees that Iran will halt its nuclear programme as part of the peace deal. Iran is reportedly willing to stop uranium enrichment, but for a shorter timeframe than the 20-year moratorium proposed by the US.