Tehran taunts White House as US reportedly sends Iran plan to end war
Iranian military says the US is negotiating with itself as fighting continued across the Middle East
Tehran has mocked Washington's claims of ongoing diplomacy after reports that the United States sent a 15-point proposal to end the war, even as fighting continued across the Middle East and the Pentagon prepared to deploy additional troops to the region.
Iran's military leadership dismissed suggestions that negotiations were underway, ridiculing comments by US President Donald Trump that Tehran was seeking a deal to halt the conflict.
"Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?" Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's joint military command at Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in remarks broadcast on state television.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"People like us can never get along with people like you," he added. "As we have always said … someone like us will never make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever," reports Reuters.
The comments came after reports that Washington had drafted a comprehensive plan aimed at ending the war, now approaching its fourth week, and passed it to Tehran through intermediaries.
Officials familiar with the diplomacy said the United States had sent a 15-point framework for a ceasefire and broader settlement, with Pakistan playing a key role in delivering the proposal to Iranian authorities.
Two Pakistani officials confirmed that the plan had been transmitted through intelligence channels and that Islamabad was awaiting a formal response from Tehran.
Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has emerged as a central interlocutor between Washington and Tehran, officials said. Munir is believed to maintain contacts with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, allowing him to convey messages between the two sides.
He has reportedly reached out to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran's parliament and a former Revolutionary Guards commander, suggesting Pakistan host negotiations if both sides agree.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly offered to facilitate talks.
"Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to host meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict," Sharif wrote on social media.
Officials involved in the diplomacy said possible in-person talks could take place in Pakistan or Turkey if Tehran signals willingness to engage.
Turkey, China, Germany urge negotiations
Turkey has also indicated that it is helping relay messages between the two sides, reports Reuters.
Harun Armagan, vice-chair of foreign affairs for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, said Ankara was "playing a role passing messages" between Washington and Tehran to encourage direct negotiations.
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has held discussions with both US officials and Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi in recent days, diplomatic sources said.
China has likewise urged Iran to consider diplomacy. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told Araqchi in a phone call that dialogue offered the best path to end the conflict, according to a statement from Beijing.
"Talking is better than fighting," Wang said, urging all sides to "seize every opportunity for peace and start talks as soon as possible".
Germany's foreign minister said on Wednesday he hopes efforts to hold talks with Iran will be given a chance to succeed.
"It is commendable that the US President has postponed his ultimatum to the Iranian regime for a few days and is now seeking negotiations," Johann Wadephul said, referring to President Donald Trump.
"Iran's regime would be well-advised to respond to this now. So, if there is a window of opportunity for diplomacy, we should definitely give talks a chance," he said.
What the US plan proposes, Iran's 'counter-demands'
Officials briefed on the proposal said the US framework outlines sweeping conditions aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear programme and limiting its regional military activities.
Some of the elements in the proposal include: the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and function as a free maritime zone; Iran's ballistic missiles will be limited in number and range; Iranian missiles will be designated solely for self-defence; Iran will dismantle all nuclear capabilities and facilities; uranium enrichment on Iranian soil will cease and Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium will be transferred to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Diplomats said many of the conditions mirror earlier US proposals rejected by Tehran before the war began.
Meanwhile, Tehran has reportedly communicated its own demands through intermediaries, setting a high bar for any ceasefire agreement.
According to officials familiar with the messages passed to the US, Iran has outlined five conditions for ending the conflict. These include a complete halt to attacks and assassinations, concrete guarantees against future conflict, payment of war damages, an end to fighting across all fronts involving allied groups, and international recognition of Iran's authority over the Strait of Hormuz, reports Iran International.
A US official reportedly described the demands as "ridiculous and unrealistic".
Iran has also signalled that it will not negotiate over its ballistic missile programme or its support for regional allies, which it considers central to its security strategy.
"Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met," a senior official said, adding, "No negotiations will be held prior to that."
"Iran's defensive operations will continue until its conditions are met," the official said, describing the US proposal as "excessive."
US boosts military presence
Even as diplomatic efforts intensify, Washington is increasing its military presence in the region.
At least 1,000 troops from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy to the Middle East in the coming days, while the Pentagon is also sending thousands more Marines and sailors, reports Reuters.
The deployments would expand the United States' military options, including the possibility of ground operations, officials said.
The war began on 28 February when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, arguing that Tehran must be prevented from developing nuclear weapons.
Persian Gulf states call Iran attacks 'existential threat'
The United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday backed a resolution by Persian Gulf states and Jordan condemning Iran's attacks on regional countries, after their diplomats told the body they faced an "existential threat" from Tehran's strikes.
The 47-member council adopted by consensus a motion brought by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, decrying Iran's "unprovoked and deliberate" attacks, calling on Tehran to immediately cease them and demanding full and swift reparations for victims.
Kuwait's ambassador, Naser Abdullah HM Alhayen, told the Geneva-based council that Persian Gulf states were confronting "an existential threat to international and regional security" and said Iran's actions were undermining international law and sovereignty.
The United Arab Emirates' ambassador, Jamal Jama al Musharakh, said Iran was attempting to destabilise the international order through "reckless adventures of expansionism."
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that the conflict could draw in countries around the world on an unprecedented scale and urged influential states to use all available means to help end the war.
He said, "Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure must end. If they are deliberate, such attacks may constitute war crimes."
War continues across the region
Despite the flurry of diplomatic activity, the fighting has shown little sign of easing.
Israeli forces on Wednesday carried out several waves of airstrikes in Tehran and targeted an Iranian submarine development centre in Isfahan, the Israeli military said.
It also carried out strikes on weapons production sites in Tehran linked to aerial and naval systems. The Israeli military said the targets included facilities producing weapons for Iran and allied groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah.
It added that air defense positions, including an anti-aircraft missile launcher, were also struck.
Residents in the Iranian capital described days of heavy bombardment.
"There have been some days when the bombings are so intense you can't do anything," said a 26-year-old graduate student in Tehran who asked not to be named for security reasons.
Iran has continued firing missiles and drones at Israel and at countries hosting US military bases.
Drone attacks have been reported in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where a strike hit a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport and sparked a fire.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese group, has also fired rockets into northern Israel daily since entering the conflict.
The war has already caused heavy casualties across the region. Iran's health ministry says more than 1,500 people have been killed, while Israeli authorities report at least 20 deaths in Israel.
For now, Israeli officials say military operations are expected to continue for weeks, even as diplomatic efforts gather pace and mediators push both sides towards negotiations.
