Morning Note

Donald Trump rejected Iran’s response to his latest peace proposal on Sunday, writing on Truth Social that the offer was “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.” He did not provide details.

According to Iranian media, the U.S. proposal essentially demanded Iran’s surrender, as it would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz and ended the country’s nuclear program without including any American concessions. Iran’s counter reportedly included “war reparations by the U.S., full Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, an end to sanctions, and the release of seized Iranian assets.”

If Washington had all the negotiating leverage, getting Tehran to bend to Trump’s will would be easy. The Iranians standing their ground shows they believe they can outlast the United States and force the White House to cave as the war grows less popular among voters. The people who convinced the president that victory would be easy were always lying. For some reason, it seems like they are still calling the shots.

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