Merz Criticizes Iran Talks, US Eyes Hormuz Deal

0:00On April 27, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Murz just called out the U.S. saying Iran's leadership is humiliating America at the negotiating table. Two days ago, President Trump canceled a trip by U.S. negotiators to Islamabad for indirect talks with Iran. A prior round there two weeks back, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, ended with zero progress. Murz says the Iranians are masters at stalling, making the Americans fly in and out empty-handed. Meanwhile, Iran dropped a new ceasefire proposal on Monday, focusing first on reopening the straight-of-war moves while parking nuclear talks, missiles, and sanctions for later. They charged shippers fees for passage, something that was free before the war. Regional officials say this came through Pakistani mediators to ease the global energy crunch from the U.S. Israeli strikes on Iran back in February. But it dodges Washington's big goals, like ending Iran's nuclear program for good. The U.N.'s international maritime organization

1:00shut it down quick, with their secretary-general saying there's no legal basis for those fees on. International waters. Iran's economy is tanking hard, with the international monetary fund predicting a 6.1 percent drop in gross domestic product this year and inflation near 70 percent. Trump's counter-blockade has them desperate for storage and trade routes. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday, pushing for Russian help against the blockade. Putin promised support for peace and Iran's interests. Experts say Tehran is resilient in this fight, willing to take the pain while Trump faces heat from rising gas prices and deadlines like his Beijing. Trip mid-May and the World Cup in June and July. If Trump takes the Hormuz deal, he could spin it as a win after the damage to Iran's nukes and military. Still, they keep enough enriched uranium for a dozen warheads and could rebuild fast. Over in Israel, Nanyahu's eyeing more action against Hezbollah rockets in drones and Lebanon

2:04keeping tension sky high.