Donald Trump has thrown fresh strain onto a fragile regional truce, calling Iran’s response to a US peace proposal “totally unacceptable” as signs mount that the ceasefire is starting to fray.

The dispute appears to center on the terms of any nuclear deal. Reports indicate the US framework called for a long moratorium on Iranian nuclear enrichment, the transfer abroad of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, and the dismantling of nuclear facilities. According to reported details of Iran’s counter-proposal, Tehran pushed for a shorter pause, offered to export only part of its stockpile while diluting the rest, and refused to accept dismantlement of its facilities. That gap now looks like the central obstacle to any breakthrough.

Trump’s rejection did more than kill momentum around the proposal — it signaled that Washington and Tehran still sit far apart on the most consequential terms.

The diplomatic setback has landed at a tense moment. Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war is “not over,” a remark that undercuts hopes that the ceasefire can hold without a broader political settlement. Trump’s comments, posted publicly, added to the sense that the current pause may rest on weak foundations rather than durable agreement.

Key Facts

  • Trump called Iran’s response to a US peace plan “totally unacceptable.”
  • Reports suggest the dispute centers on uranium enrichment, stockpile transfers, and nuclear facility dismantling.
  • Netanyahu said the war is “not over,” raising doubts about the ceasefire’s durability.
  • Brent crude jumped about 4% before settling at $103.50 a barrel.

Markets reacted immediately. Brent crude surged 4% to $105.50 a barrel on Monday before easing to $103.50, a clear sign that traders see renewed risk in any collapse of negotiations. Energy prices often act as an early warning system in moments like this, and this move suggests investors now expect more volatility if diplomacy continues to stall.

What happens next will matter well beyond the negotiating table. If both sides harden their positions, the ceasefire could weaken further and push energy markets, regional security, and US policy deeper into uncertainty. If talks resume, the core question remains the same: whether either side will bend on enrichment, uranium stockpiles, and the future of Iran’s nuclear facilities.