Observers raise red flags after 'desparate' war proposal leaks: 'Totally unrealistic'

Political analysts and observers raised red flags on Sunday after a new proposal to end the war in Iran was shared with the press.

Axios reported, citing "a U.S. official and two sources with knowledge," that Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for kicking talks about the country's enriched uranium down the road. The Strait has been effectively shut down since late February, following the start of the war, sending global energy prices skyrocketing.

The report also noted that President Donald Trump is expected to hold a meeting in the Situation Room on Monday to discuss the proposal.

"But lifting the blockade and ending the war would remove President Trump's leverage in any future talks to remove Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium and convince Tehran to suspend enrichment — two primary war objectives for Trump," it added.

Analysts and observers shared their reactions on social media, with some expressing concerns about market manipulation.

"Effectively, this is a totally unrealistic proposal. Still, the administration waited 11 hours until markets were open to hype so-called 'good news' by calling an American (or Israeli) reporter to say 'A DEAL IS COMING!' and breathlessly include 'We'll meet in the situation room to discuss,'" Jim Bianco, a macro research specialist, wrote on X. "What is amazing is how desperate the market wants this to be the case, and how it bounces every time it happens."

"Barak should just ring the NASDAQ bell," Christian Borys, creator of Saint Javelin, posted on X in reference to Barak Ravid, the reporter who broke the story.

"As markets open, another Axios story about diplomacy based solely on US-linked sources, Iran consistently says that ending the war requires 'firm int’l guarantees against future aggression,'" Erik Sperling, executive director of Just Foreign Policy, posted on X. "Unlikely that Iran would suddenly abandon that demand right before markets open in the U.S."