Iran has rejected, through various figures and channels within its government, any willingness to negotiate the peace plan submitted by U.S. President Donald Trump, amidst a five-day deadline set by the president to open talks with Tehran. Army spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari stated in a televised address that the United States and Trump “negotiate with themselves” and rejected Washington’s attempt to “call a defeat an agreement.” “Someone like us will never reach an agreement with someone like you. Neither now, nor ever,” the military spokesperson declared. In response to this stance, the United States has threatened to “unleash hell” if no agreement is reached to conclude the conflict.
These reactions follow the White House conveying a 15-point proposal to Tehran, via Pakistani intermediaries, to end the war. The proposal includes the total dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, an end to its collaboration with militias abroad—Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis—and limiting its missile program to self-defense. Iran’s English-language television, Press TV, indicated that the regime rejects the proposal as “excessive and far from reality” and stated Iranian officials have their own conditions: an end to “aggressions,” reparations, guarantees against future attacks, an end to the war against Hezbollah, and recognition of Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, there are contradictions regarding the completeness of Iran’s rejection of negotiations, as the regime acknowledged on Monday having received U.S. Proposals through intermediaries. Reuters reports, citing a Persian official, that even as Tehran does not accept the U.S. Proposal, We see still studying it. Fars News Agency, close to the Iranian government, reports from a “well-informed source” that Tehran rules out a ceasefire now and does not see “logical” grounds for talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that no negotiations are underway, clarifying that exchanging messages through intermediaries “does not mean negotiating.” The Revolutionary Guard as well asserted that U.S. Ultimatums are “acts of war” justifying their attacks against Israel.
Despite the uncertainty, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, suggested that the U.S. And Iran could hold talks in Islamabad with Pakistan as a mediator this weekend, as revealed to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. The White House is working to ensure that this meeting takes place between Vice President J.D. Vance and Iranian representatives, according to CNN.
Washington Insists Talks Continue with Tehran
The public rejection of Trump’s peace plan by Iranian authorities contrasts with the White House’s position. Presidential spokesperson Karoline Leavitt insisted on Wednesday that conversations between Washington and Tehran continue and remain “productive” despite denials from the regime. Leavitt also stated that reports in the international press regarding the 15 points of the peace plan “contain elements of truth,” while other points “do not entirely align with the facts.”
Leavitt explained that the president is “willing to listen” and has therefore opened a five-day window for talks, but warned: “The president’s preference is always for peace. There does not need to be more death or destruction. But if Iran does not accept the reality of the current moment, if it does not understand that it has been militarily defeated and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure it receives a blow harder than ever before.” The spokesperson added that Trump is not a president who hesitates in his decisions and is prepared to “unleash hell” if Tehran does not accept his demands.
The White House spokesperson explained that the U.S. Has attacked more than 9,000 targets in Iran since the start of the war and that the U.S. Military has “annihilated” the Iranian Navy by sinking 140 ships, including 50 minesweepers. “This represents the greatest annihilation of a navy on Earth in just three weeks since World War II,” Leavitt highlighted. The White House points to a “resounding military triumph” in its campaign in Iran, despite ongoing attacks in the Middle East, and noted that Iranian missile and drone attacks “have been reduced by 90%.”
“The War is at its Peak”
Regarding these possible indirect contacts between the Islamic Republic and the United States, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the war against the Iranian regime is “at its peak, despite reports published in the press.” At a forum with mayors and local leaders in the north of the country, on the border with Lebanon, Netanyahu indicated that the campaign against Hezbollah is directly related to the war against the regime of the ayatollahs.
On the twenty-sixth day of the war, Israel asserted on Wednesday that it had attacked two missile production facilities for long-range naval cruise missiles in Tehran. The Israeli military stated in a statement that the attacks against these infrastructures dependent on the Iranian Ministry of Defense occurred “in recent days” and assured that the missiles manufactured there were destined for naval platforms and were long-range, “capable of quickly destroying targets on land and sea.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that his army has dropped more than 15,000 munitions on Iran in the 26 days of war. Iran, for its part, asserted on Wednesday that it had successfully hit more than seventy points in Israel, including Haifa and Al Jadriya (in the north of the country) and Dimona (in the south of the territory).
Despite the truce decreed by Trump, Tehran also announced on Wednesday new attacks with cruise missiles against the U.S. Nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, in the waters of the Arabian Sea. The Iranian army assured that it is closely monitoring the ship’s movements and that any vessel entering the range of its missiles “will be the target of the devastating attacks of the Iranian Navy.”
the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, assured that Tehran monitors “all U.S. Movements in the region, especially the deployment of troops,” referring to the troop movements ordered by Trump alongside the truce, with more than 3,000 additional marine and infantry soldiers arriving near the Persian Gulf from different parts of the world.
The war has also impacted Kuwait on Wednesday. The impact of several drones against a fuel tank at the country’s International Airport has caused a serious fire and the formation of a large smoke column. The incident, in which no casualties have occurred, is under investigation. Other Gulf countries such as Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also announced having intercepted drones on Wednesday.
Hezbollah Prepared to Fight “Without Limits”
In Lebanon, the Israeli army has affirmed having attacked a “command center” of Hezbollah in the suburb of Daniyeh, south of Beirut, as well as different gas stations of the Amana company, which Israel considers a source of income for the Shiite militia, throughout the country.
One day after Israel announced its intention to “control” all of southern Lebanon between its border and the Litani River, the leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, denounced that Tel Aviv seeks to annex Lebanon to create a “Greater Israel from the Euphrates to the Nile.” Qassem assured, through a televised speech read on his behalf, that negotiating with Israel under fire is equivalent to an imposed surrender, and underscored that Hezbollah fighters are prepared to continue “without limits” in their war against Israel.
Attacks on southern Lebanon and areas of its capital continue intensely. Health authorities in the country have updated the number of fatalities to 1,094 dead, including 121 children, since March 2—when cross-attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon and the Israeli offensive began. The number of wounded is now above 3,000, and the number of evacuees exceeds one million people, more than 700,000 in the south alone.
In these circumstances, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday that the war in the Middle East is “out of control” and has sent a special envoy to lead the United Nations’ efforts in the conflict. Guterres underscored that the conflict “has crossed unimaginable limits” and could lead to a growing wave of human suffering and a deeper global economic crisis.
He expressed hope for an agreement between Tehran and Washington. “I hope that, regardless of the current positions expressed by the parties, there is a way for them to reach an agreement to end this horrible conflict,” Guterres declared to the media outside the Security Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the status of negotiations between the U.S. And Iran?
The U.S. Maintains that talks with Iran are ongoing and “productive,” despite public denials from the Iranian regime. Iran has stated it received a 15-point proposal from the U.S. But is currently studying it, while also asserting that exchanging messages through intermediaries does not constitute negotiations.
What are the key demands in the U.S. Proposal to Iran?
The 15-point proposal includes the total dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, an end to its collaboration with militias such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and limiting its missile program to self-defense.
What is the current military situation?
Israel has attacked targets in Iran and Lebanon, while Iran has launched attacks against Israel and threatened attacks against U.S. Naval assets. The U.S. Has conducted attacks against more than 9,000 targets in Iran and claims to have “annihilated” a significant portion of the Iranian Navy.
Given the current tensions, what role might international mediation play in de-escalating the conflict?
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