Iran Seek War Reparations, US Troops Withdrawal, as Vance Draws Nuclear Red Line

In its latest peace proposal, Tehran has asked the US to withdraw its forces from West Asia and pay reparations for the war destruction, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibadadi said on Tuesday (May 19, 2026).

Gharibabadi also said Tehran sought the lifting of economic sanctions against Iran, the release of frozen funds, and an end to the American naval blockade of the Iranian ports.

The latest proposals read very similar to Iran’s previous offer, which US President Donald Trump had described as “unacceptable” and rejected as “garbage.”

Only on Monday (May 18), Trump had said he had stopped a planned attack on Iran to resume the paused war in the wake of new offers coming from Tehran. He had also said there was a “very good chance” of a deal on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi termed the “contradictory and excessive behaviours” of the US as a major obstacle to the peace talks.

Araghchi told the visiting Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi during their meeting on Monday (May 18) that Iran remained deeply suspicious of the US due to its repeated breach of promises.

The two leaders had discussed the latest status of bilateral relations and the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States. Earlier, Tehran put forward its most recent 14-point resolution draft, conveying the framework through Islamabad.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s senior advisor Mohsen Rezaee also issued a stern warning to Trump over repeated threats of military action, saying that the “iron fist of Iran’s armed forces will force the US to retreat and surrender.”

Rezaee slammed the US President’s approach, describing it as indecisive and driven by a misplaced expectation of forcing Iran into submission.

“He sets a deadline for a military strike and then cancels it himself! With this vain hope of making the Iranian nation and officials surrender! The iron fist of the powerful armed forces and the great Iranian nation will force them to retreat and surrender,” Rezaee posted on X.

US Vice President J. D. Vance said, during a briefing at the White House, that Iran appeared willing to negotiate a nuclear agreement with Washington, but cautioned that the US remained uncertain about Tehran’s true intentions until a formal deal is signed.

Speaking on the ongoing negotiations, Vance said the Trump administration is engaging in talks “in good faith” and believes Iran understands that developing a nuclear weapon remains a non-negotiable red line for the United States.

Vance delivered a stark warning regarding the US’s ongoing high-stakes negotiations with Iran, declaring that a nuclear-armed Tehran remains an absolute “red line” for the Trump administration.

“What I think is that the Iranians want to make a deal. Iranians recognise that a nuclear weapon is the red line for the United States of America,” Vance said.

However, he warned against assuming that an agreement is imminent, adding that the US would only know Iran’s real position “when we’re actually putting pen to paper on signing a deal.”

“I can’t say with confidence because I don’t know what’s in the mind of the other side,” he asserted. Vance also reiterated that Trump is prepared to take stronger action if diplomatic efforts fail.

He said Trump had conveyed that while the US is pursuing a peaceful resolution, it remains “locked and loaded” and ready to use military force if necessary.

According to Vance, internal divisions within Iran’s leadership may also be complicating the negotiation process. “Maybe the Iranians aren’t quite clear on what direction they want to go. They are also just a fractured country,” he said.

Highlighting the broader global implications, Vance warned that a nuclear-armed Iran could trigger worldwide nuclear proliferation. “Iran would really be the first domino in what would set off a nuclear arms race all over the world. That’s very, very bad for the safety of our country,” he added.