Iran has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and is demanding a permanent end to the war.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said Tehran will not accept a temporary pause in fighting. Officials insist any agreement must include guarantees that the country will not be attacked again.
“We won’t merely accept a ceasefire,” Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran’s diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press. “We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won’t be attacked again.”
The response comes as President Donald Trump has issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He has warned that failure to comply could trigger U.S. strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges.
Iran conveyed its position to Washington through Pakistan. Iranian and Omani officials are also working on a mechanism to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil routes.
Separately, Iran’s foreign ministry said it has prepared a formal response to ceasefire proposals delivered through intermediaries, according to Reuters.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said negotiations cannot move forward under pressure.
“Negotiations are incompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes,” Baghaei said. He added that Iran has already outlined its demands based on national interests through diplomatic channels.
Baghaei also pushed back on earlier U.S. proposals, including a reported 15-point plan, calling them “excessive.”
“Iran does not hesitate to clearly express what it considers its legitimate demands,” he said. “Doing so should not be interpreted as a sign of compromise, but rather as a reflection of its confidence in defending its positions.”
“We have formulated our own responses” and will announce details in due time, he added.
The developments come amid rising tensions in the region. Israeli strikes have targeted key Iranian infrastructure, including energy facilities tied to the country’s economy.
The situation has also raised concerns about global energy markets. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, where a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes, has already disrupted shipping and driven up prices.
With Trump’s deadline approaching and both sides holding firm, a quick agreement appears unlikely.