U.S.-Iran talks at impasse over nuclear program and Strait of Hormuz

[0:00] Today, the U.S. said it's discussing a new Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, [0:05] but pause all negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. [0:09] And Lebanon marked the deadliest day since the fraying ceasefire in that country went into effect two weeks ago. [0:16] Israeli attacks killed more than a dozen people in the south. [0:19] Nick Schifrin reports on tensions running high on the Israeli-Lebanese border [0:23] and what appears to be an impasse in the war in Iran. [0:26] In the Strait of Hormuz today, tankers at a standstill. [0:32] As the war's diplomacy isn't a standoff. [0:35] Today, Iran's top diplomat visited with Russian President Vladimir Putin, [0:39] a longtime ally who called Iran's struggle heroic. [0:42] And Foreign Minister Abbas Arachi blamed the U.S. for a lack of progress. [0:48] The Americans' approaches caused the previous round of talks, [0:50] despite the progress that had been made, not to reach its objectives, [0:54] the excessive demands they made and the incorrect approaches they adopted. [0:57] But an Iranian official and a senior regional official tell PBS NewsHour [1:02] Iran has made the latest proposal to reopen the strait if the U.S. lifts its blockade, [1:08] unfreezes blocked Iranian assets, and pauses any negotiation of Iran's nuclear program. [1:15] The Iranian official said the U.S. has already described this offer as not good enough. [1:20] The proposal was being discussed. [1:22] Today at the White House, spokesperson Caroline Levitt did not reject the deal out of hand. [1:26] They're very good negotiators. [1:27] But Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News any deal would require Iran to dismantle [1:33] its nuclear program permanently. [1:35] We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, [1:39] is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point. [1:44] And Rubio appeared to dismiss Iran's willingness to give up its chokehold on the strait. [1:49] What they mean by opening the straits is, yes, the straits are open as long as you coordinate [1:53] with Iran, get our permission, or we'll blow you up, and you pay us. [1:57] That's not opening the straits. [1:58] Those are international waterways. [2:00] They cannot normalize, nor can we tolerate them trying to normalize a system in which [2:05] the Iranians decide who gets to use an international waterway and how much you have to pay them [2:09] to use it. [2:10] But the fact is, that system did not exist before the war, a fact highlighted today by German [2:16] Chancellor Frederick Mertz, an extraordinary criticism of the U.S. [2:19] The Americans clearly have no strategy. [2:23] And the problem with conflicts like this is always that you don't just have to go in. [2:27] You also have to get out. [2:28] An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian state leadership. [2:33] This weekend, that Iranian leadership's main proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon, marked the deadliest [2:38] day since the ceasefire began two weeks ago, 14 dead, some celebrated at this Hezbollah funeral. [2:44] Israel is now demanding that residents in at least seven villages north of the Latani River [2:49] evacuate, above the area where Israel has invaded and occupied, leading once again to an exodus [2:56] of residents from southern Lebanon. [3:00] In that same area, Hezbollah continues to fight. [3:03] This weekend, Hezbollah released video of drone attacks on Israeli soldiers. [3:07] They killed 19-year-old Edan Fox, buried by his family today. [3:12] This sacrifice will continue until Hezbollah can no longer fire rockets or drones, Israeli [3:18] Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told senior military commanders today. [3:23] What I expect from you is to solve these two problems, because I believe we will be able [3:28] to resolve the diplomatic aspect if we have solved these. [3:32] That diplomacy has been between Israel's and Lebanon's ambassadors in Washington. [3:37] But today, Hezbollah accused the Lebanese government of treason during these talks. [3:42] Lebanon's president responded, accusing Hezbollah of its own treason for taking Lebanon to war [3:47] to serve Iranian interests. [3:50] Back on the U.S.-Iran negotiations, an Iranian official tells me that Iran is unlikely to adjust [3:55] its demands, despite what the official told me was the U.S.'s rejection. [3:59] And so the official called this moment, quote, totally an impasse. [4:02] Iran won't give in to U.S. nuclear demands, and the U.S. hasn't been willing to give in [4:07] to Iranian demands. [4:08] And so it's not clear how the two sides can find an off-ramp. [4:11] That said, the official told me Iran has been willing to consider a less than 10-year freeze [4:16] on domestic nuclear enrichment. [4:18] So far, that is not something the U.S. has said it is willing to accept. [4:35] Support journalism you trust. [4:37] Support PBS News. [4:39] Donate now, or even better, start a monthly contribution today.