President Donald Trump said on May 2, 2026, that he is reviewing a new proposal from Iran but expressed strong skepticism that it would meet U.S. expectations, writing in a Truth Social post that Iran has not yet “paid a big enough price for what they have done to Humanity, and the World, over the last 47 years.”
The statement, posted at 5:47 p.m., signaled continued uncertainty surrounding negotiations between the United States and Iran, as a fragile cease-fire remains in place following weeks of military escalation. In his message, Trump indicated that a formal review of Iran’s latest proposal was imminent but cast doubt on its acceptability before examining its full contents.
“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,” Trump wrote, concluding the post with, “Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The comments marked a shift in tone from the previous day, when Trump had said he was “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest offer. He later clarified that his earlier rejection was based only on a briefing about the “concept of the deal,” rather than a full review of the proposal’s detailed terms.
Speaking to reporters before boarding a plane in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said, “They’re going to give me the exact wording now,” indicating that a more thorough evaluation was forthcoming. Despite that clarification, his social media post suggested that his overall position on Iran’s proposal remained largely unchanged.
The diplomatic back-and-forth comes amid ongoing tensions following a U.S.-led military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, which began on February 28, 2026, under Trump’s direction. The operation targeted key elements of Iran’s military and security infrastructure, including command and control centers, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems.
According to U.S. Central Command, the operation involved extensive use of air, sea, and land assets and represented one of the largest concentrations of American military force in the region in decades. U.S. and partner forces conducted thousands of strikes, while also defending against retaliatory Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The conflict has had broader geopolitical implications, including disruption to global energy routes. Iran’s latest proposal reportedly includes a willingness to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Iranian officials have indicated that reopening the strait could occur before the United States lifts its blockade, a shift from earlier negotiating positions.
At the same time, Iranian leadership has signaled that it expects the United States to take the next step in de-escalating the conflict. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in Tehran that “the ball is now in the United States’ court to choose between diplomacy or continuing a confrontational approach,” while also warning that Iran is prepared to resume fighting if necessary.
Trump has continued to frame the situation in stark strategic terms, outlining the choices facing the United States. “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever, or do we want to try and make a deal?” he said at the White House, emphasizing the binary nature of the decision as he described it.
A central issue in the negotiations remains Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran must halt all nuclear enrichment and abandon any path toward developing nuclear weapons. Iranian officials, however, have maintained that they have a right to nuclear enrichment, making the issue a major obstacle to any comprehensive agreement.
Trump reiterated concerns about the long-term implications of any deal, stating at a Florida event that “they’re not coming through with the kind of deal that we have to have, and we’re going to get this thing done properly. We’re not going to leave early and then have the problem arise in three more years.”
The cease-fire itself has been in place since April 21, when Trump extended it despite stalled negotiations. Shortly afterward, he canceled a planned diplomatic trip involving senior U.S. negotiators, signaling frustration with the pace and substance of talks. Iran’s latest proposal represents the most recent attempt to revive diplomatic momentum, though Trump’s latest remarks suggest significant hurdles remain before any agreement can be reached.