Iran Evaluates US Peace Proposal Amidst Denial of Ongoing Negotiations

Iranian authorities are currently evaluating a proposal from the United States aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, Iran’s foreign minister has made it clear that Tehran has no plans to engage in direct talks with the US.

The proposal, consisting of 15 points and conveyed via Pakistan, outlines several demands. These include the elimination of Iran’s highly enriched uranium reserves, cessation of enrichment activities, restrictions on its ballistic missile program, and the termination of financial support to regional allies, as reported by three Israeli cabinet sources familiar with the initiative.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, reiterated that Tehran has no intention of entering into negotiations with the US. He emphasized that communication through intermediaries does not equate to direct negotiations with the American government.

Pakistani security officials have stated they are still waiting for an official response from Iran, as Tehran has postponed its reply.

Another source from Pakistan mentioned, “The Iranians informed us they would respond by tonight. Although media outlets suggest they’ve declined, we haven’t received any official confirmation from Iran yet. We are in a holding pattern, as all parties are in seclusion and communication poses a significant challenge.”

A senior ruling party official in Turkey, Harun Armagan, told Reuters that the country was also “playing a ⁠role in passing messages” between Iran and the US.

The White House has declined to disclose specifics of its proposal and threatened to escalate its strikes.

“If they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily, and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

The 15-point plan

Reports of the peace plan have helped ease uncertainty in global markets, with investors hoping for an end to a war that has killed thousands of people and disrupted international energy supplies.

But it could be some time before official talks between the Gulf States and the US take place.

Three Israeli cabinet sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet had been briefed on the US proposal.

A senior Israeli defence official said Israel was sceptical Iran would agree to the terms, and that Israel was concerned that US negotiators might make concessions in any talks.

Iran has told intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire agreement with the United States and Israel, six regional sources familiar with Iran’s position said, linking an end of the war to a halt to Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah.

The Pentagon is meanwhile planning to send thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf to give Trump more options to order a ground assault, sources have told Reuters, adding to two contingents of Marines already on their way.

The first Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard a huge amphibious assault ship could arrive around the end of the month.

‘Business as usual’

Pakistan has offered to host talks attended by senior US officials as soon as this week, as fighting continues across the region.

An Israeli military official, asked whether Israel had adjusted its military plans since Trump said talks were underway, said it was “pretty much business as usual”.

The Israeli military described several new waves of attacks on Iran during the day, including one on Iran’s construction of ships and submarines.

Iranian SNN News Agency said a residential area was hit in Tehran, with rescuers searching the rubble.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said they had repelled new drone attacks.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had launched new attacks against Israel and US bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.

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