Monday’s meeting in the Situation Room to discuss Iran’s latest proposal failed to produce a clear decision. Iran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iran, while setting aside nuclear talks for now. President Donald Trump was reportedly dissatisfied with the proposal, which included allowing Iran to charge fees to ships passing through the strait — something the United States has traditionally opposed.

While the reason for Trump’s dissatisfaction with the deal was not made known, he has repeatedly said that Iran must never achieve its goal of creating a nuclear weapon. But before the war, throughout the war, and during negotiations, Iran has repeatedly rejected demands to end its nuclear program and turn over its stockpile of enriched uranium.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that Iran’s leadership lacked consensus on its nuclear position, leading Trump to conclude the fractured, weakened leadership is frustrating the process of negotiations.

“Iran is having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is! They just don’t know!” he posted on Truth Social last week. “The infighting is between the ‘Hardliners,’ who have been losing BADLY on the battlefield, and the ‘Moderates,’ who are not very moderate at all (but gaining respect!), is CRAZY!”

The administration is divided over which country is hurt more by the current standoff, who has more leverage, and who can tolerate the economic fallout better. Officials in the administration have said that strangling Iran’s oil shipping means they will have to close oil wells — but oil wells can’t just be turned off and then back on again. Turning them off creates permanent damage, leading officials to believe that keeping the pressure on for just a few more months will lead Iran to cave.

While declining to comment on Trump’s thinking, officials said that ongoing discussions about the war and the problem with Iran’s nuclear ambitions will continue.

“The United States will not negotiate through the press — we have been clear about our red lines and the president will only make a deal that’s good for the American people and the world,” Olivia Wales, a White House spokeswoman, said in a statement.