Tensions in the Persian Gulf / Washington awaits Iran's response to peace proposal

2026-05-09 15:36:38, Kosova & Bota CNA

Tensions in the Persian Gulf / Washington awaits Iran's response to peace

Iran blamed the United States for the recent escalation of clashes in the Persian Gulf, as Washington awaits a response from Tehran on its latest proposal to end the war between them.

Senior US officials, from President Donald Trump to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said on May 8 that Iran's response to a US proposal to end the conflict - which comes as fragile ceasefire efforts continue amid fresh military incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz - was expected within hours.

But, as of May 9, there was no announcement from Tehran about its response, other than a brief statement questioning Washington's seriousness in the talks.

"The recent escalation of tensions by US forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violation of the ceasefire have increased doubts about the motivation and seriousness of the American side on the path of diplomacy," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said during a telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to an Iranian summary published by the semi-official ISNA news agency.

A day earlier, Rubio told reporters during a visit to Rome that the Trump administration expected a response "sometime today [May 8]."

"I hope it's a serious offer, I really hope so," Rubio added.

Trump backed up this statement in comments to CNN, saying: "We're supposed to hear from them tonight."

Rubio also strongly defended recent US military actions in the Persian Gulf and rejected Iranian efforts to regulate navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic sea route through which about a fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass.

"Iran now claims that it owns, that it has the right to control, an international waterway... This is an unacceptable thing that they are trying to normalize," Rubio said after reports that Tehran had created an agency to approve the passage of ships through the strait.

"Normalizing their control over an international waterway is both illegal and simply unacceptable," he added.

Rubio said the recent clashes in the Persian Gulf began after Iranian forces targeted American warships.

“What you saw yesterday were American destroyers moving through international waters and being fired upon by the Iranians, and the United States reacted defensively to defend itself,” he said on May 8. “We didn’t fire. They fired at us.”

Iran, however, has stated that the confrontation began after US ships attacked an Iranian civilian tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi on May 8 accused Washington of undermining diplomacy, saying in a post on X that “every time a diplomatic solution is on the table,” the United States chooses “a reckless military adventure.” Despite the exchange of accusations, both sides publicly stated that the ceasefire remains in effect. /REL