Trump Sets July 4 Deadline for EU to Cut Tariffs on US Goods; Iran Responds to US Ceasefire Proposal

President Donald Trump has walked back his threat to tear up part of the US trade deal with the EU by hiking tariffs on car imports. The US president gave the EU until 4 July to implement its side of the deal by reducing tariffs to zero on most American imports. Trump warned that the bloc would face “much higher” tariffs if it did not ratify the agreement by that date.

Iran sent its response to the latest US ceasefire proposal to Pakistani mediators on Sunday. The response focuses on permanently ending the war in the region, including in Lebanon, and ensuring the security of shipping, according to Iranian state media. It does not address Iran’s nuclear program.

The US proposal had addressed ending the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and rolling back Iran’s nuclear program. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the US was seeking the free flow of traffic through the Straits of Hormuz and an end to the Iranian nuclear program.

Mike Waltz told ABC News that the negotiations had gone longer and slower than anyone would like but that diplomacy is ongoing.

The two sides continued to trade fire in the Persian Gulf on Saturday, more than a month after a temporary ceasefire deal was announced that was initially intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has continued to block ships from passing through the strait.

President Donald Trump’s plan for military vessels to escort merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, known as Project Freedom, was paused last week.

The US has continued its own blockade of Iran’s ports. A US intelligence analysis concluded Tehran could withstand a naval blockade for months. Iran has gradually begun to cut back oil production due to the US blockade.

Roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. In a phone interview on Friday, Trump said “No” when asked if the conflict with Iran was over.

“It’s over when it’s over,” he added. Trump stated that the US has won militarily against Iran. ” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard navy warned that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would be met with a heavy assault on one of the US bases in the region and enemy ships. A drone ignited a small fire on a ship off Qatar on Sunday. The UAE reported drones entering its airspace on Sunday and blamed Iran.

No casualties were reported in any of the incidents. Iran has more than 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity.

The majority of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is likely at its Isfahan nuclear complex, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

““We really control it; they don’t. And we’ve taken the business away from them. There are no boats going into Iran. They’re dying.””

“— President Donald Trump, in a Friday phone interview Pakistan continues to mediate between the two sides. A Pakistani government official confirmed receiving Iran’s response and forwarding it to the US. The fragile ceasefire that has held for more than a month now faces daily tests from drone activity and continued naval tensions in the Gulf.”