Iran examines US ceasefire proposal amid ongoing war
Iran is considering a US proposal to halt the war but has made clear it will not enter direct negotiations, officials said. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that exchanging messages through intermediaries “does not mean negotiating with the United States,” highlighting a gap between Washington’s demands and Tehran’s red lines.
Washington has sent a 15-point plan via third parties, including dismantling Iran’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, stopping uranium enrichment, curbing ballistic missile programs, and ending support for regional militias. The White House has signaled a willingness to escalate strikes if Iran refuses compliance. President Donald Trump warned that any refusal to acknowledge military defeat could provoke “a strike stronger than any before.”
US military officials report that over 10,000 Iranian military targets have been struck, including 92 percent of major warships, two-thirds of missile and drone production sites, and naval shipyards. Despite this, Iranian drone and missile attacks on Israel and US allies continue. Israel has launched new waves of strikes targeting shipyards and submarines in Iran, while rescue crews search for survivors in Tehran after attacks on residential areas.
Global markets showed cautious optimism as oil prices dipped and stock indices recovered slightly on news of the U.S. proposal, reflecting hopes for a reduction in the conflict’s disruption to energy supplies. Meanwhile, the U.S. Pentagon is preparing to deploy thousands of troops to the region, expanding options for potential ground operations.
Iranian military sources indicated the country could open a new front in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if attacks continue, while Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned of retaliatory strikes on neighboring countries cooperating with enemy forces. Since the war’s outbreak in late February, Iran has targeted US bases and regional energy infrastructure, effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz and threatening global oil and gas flows.
