Iran said on Sunday it had received a U.S. response to its latest offer for peace talks, a day after President Donald Trump said he ​would probably reject the Iranian proposal because “they have not paid a big enough price”.

Iranian state media reported that Washington had conveyed its response to Iran’s 14-point proposal via Pakistan, ‌and that Tehran was now reviewing it. There was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Islamabad of the U.S. response, Reuters reported.

“At this stage, we do not have nuclear negotiations,” state media quoted Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei as saying, an apparent reference to Iran’s proposal to set aside talks on nuclear issues until after the war ends and the foes agree to lift opposing blockades of Gulf shipping.

On Saturday, Trump said that he had yet to review the exact wording of the Iranian peace proposal, ​but that he was likely to reject it.

“I will soon be reviewing the plan that Iran has just sent to us, but can’t imagine that it would be acceptable in that they ​have not yet paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years,” he wrote on social ⁠media.

STRAIT STILL SHUT

The United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran four weeks ago, and U.S. and Iranian officials held one round of talks. But attempts to set up further meetings have so far ​failed.

Iran handed over its latest proposal on Thursday, and a senior Iranian official confirmed on Saturday that Tehran envisions ending the war and resolving the shipping standoff first, while leaving talks on Iran’s nuclear programme for later.

Though Trump ​initially said on Friday that he was not satisfied with the Iranian proposal, he said on Saturday he was still looking at it.

“They told me about the concept of the deal. They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” he told reporters. Asked if he might restart strikes on Iran, Trump replied: “I don’t want to say that. I mean, I can’t tell that to a reporter. If they misbehave, if they do something bad, right now we’ll see. But it’s a ​possibility that could happen.”

IRAN’S PROPOSAL VS WASHINGTON’S DEMANDS

The proposal to delay talks on nuclear issues until a later phase would appear at odds with Washington’s repeated demand that Iran accept stringent restrictions on its nuclear programme ​before the war can end.

Washington wants Tehran to give up its stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of highly enriched uranium, which the United States says could be used to make a bomb. Iran says its nuclear programme ‌is peaceful, though ⁠it is willing to discuss some curbs in return for the lifting of sanctions, as it had accepted in a 2015 deal that Trump abandoned.

While saying repeatedly he is in no hurry, Trump is under domestic pressure to break Iran’s hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies and pushed up U.S. gasoline prices. Trump’s Republican Party faces the risk of a voter backlash over higher prices in midterm congressional elections in November.

Iranian media said Tehran’s 14-point proposal includes withdrawing U.S. forces from nearby areas, lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, paying compensation, lifting sanctions, ending the war on all ​fronts including Lebanon and creating a new control ​mechanism for the strait.

Iran has been blocking nearly ⁠all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two months. Last month, the U.S. imposed its own blockade of ships from Iranian ports.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its latest proposal to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a ​significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.

“Under this framework, negotiations over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create ​a more conducive atmosphere,” the ⁠official said.

ISRAEL ORDERS LEBANON EVACUATIONS

On Sunday, Israel ordered thousands of Lebanese to leave villages in southern Lebanon, an escalation of a war between Israel and Iran’s Hezbollah allies there that has run in parallel to the Iran war and could further complicate wider peace efforts.

Iran has said talks with Washington cannot resume unless a ceasefire also holds in Lebanon, which Israel invaded in March to attack Hezbollah after the Iranian-backed Lebanese group fired across the border in support ⁠of Tehran.

Lebanon and ​Israel agreed a separate truce last month, but fighting has continued, though on a smaller scale. The Israeli military issued an ​urgent warning on Sunday to residents of 11 towns and villages in Lebanon’s south, urging them to evacuate their homes and move at least 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) away to open areas.

The military said it was conducting operations against Hezbollah following what it described as ​a violation of the ceasefire, warning that anyone near Hezbollah fighters or facilities could be at risk.

An Iranian proposal so far rejected by U.S. President Donald Trump would open shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. blockade of Iran while leaving talks ​on Iran’s nuclear programme for later, a senior Iranian official said on Saturday.

Four ‌weeks since the United States and Israel suspended their bombing campaign against Iran, no deal has been reached to end a war that has caused the biggest disruption ever to global energy supplies, Reuters reported.

Iran has been blocking ​nearly all shipping from the Gulf apart from its own for more than two ​months. Last month the U.S. imposed its own blockade of ships from ⁠Iranian ports.

Trump said on Friday he was “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest proposal, without spelling out ​in detail which elements he opposes.

“They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to,” he ​told reporters at the White House.

Washington has repeatedly said it will not end the war without a deal that prevents Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon, the primary aim Trump cited when he launched the ​strikes in February in the midst of nuclear talks. Iran says its nuclear programme is ​peaceful.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential diplomacy, the senior Iranian official said Tehran believed its ‌latest proposal ⁠to shelve nuclear talks for a later stage was a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement.

Under the proposal, the war would end with a guarantee that Israel and the United States would not attack again. Iran would open the strait, and the United States would ​lift its blockade.

Future talks ​would then be ⁠held on curbs to Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, with Iran demanding Washington recognise its right to enrich ​uranium for peaceful purposes, even if it agrees to suspend it.

“Under this ​framework, negotiations ⁠over the more complicated nuclear issue have been moved to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere,” the official said.

Reuters and other news organisations already reported over the past week ⁠that Tehran ​was proposing to reopen the strait before nuclear issues ​were resolved; the official confirmed that this new timeline had now been spelled out in a formal proposal conveyed ​to the United States through mediators.

Tehran has submitted a new proposal for negotiations with the United States through Pakistani mediators, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Friday, in a move that could revive stalled diplomatic efforts.

The report did not disclose details of the proposal. However, global oil prices, which had surged amid escalating tensions, fell following the announcement.

Energy markets have been volatile in recent days, driven by concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments. Fears of supply constraints have intensified amid heightened military and political tensions in the region.

It remains unclear whether the Iranian proposal has been formally delivered to Washington.

A ceasefire has reportedly been in place since April 8. Nonetheless, reports that Donald Trump was to be briefed on potential military options aimed at pressuring Iran to negotiate had earlier pushed oil prices to a four-year high on Thursday.

According to sources cited by Reuters, Iran has activated its air defense systems and is preparing for a potential escalation. Officials reportedly anticipate the possibility of a limited but intense U.S. strike, which could be followed by further action involving regional allies.