Iran Rejects US Peace Plan, Outlines Conditions for Conflict Resolution
Iran has declined the 15-point peace proposal reportedly put forward by US President Donald Trump to end the ongoing war, according to the state-run Press TV. The report referenced an unnamed "senior political-security official" who detailed five Iranian conditions necessary to conclude the conflict, including reparations for damages incurred.
The White House has not officially confirmed the full contents of the plan, which was published by Israel's Channel 12 network, acknowledging only "elements of truth". The plan reportedly includes commitments from Iran not to develop nuclear weapons and to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict began on 28 February with US and Israeli air strikes, after which Iran expanded hostilities by targeting American allies in the Gulf region.
On Tuesday, President Trump stated that Iran was "desperate" for negotiations and that Iranian representatives had offered the US a "very significant prize". The "present" referenced pertained to oil, gas, and the Strait of Hormuz, though Trump did not provide further specifics.
However, Iran's parliamentary speaker dismissed any notion of negotiations, stating on X:
No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews [sic] is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped.
Despite this, when questioned during a White House briefing on Wednesday, Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that talks were "ongoing" and "productive".
Details of Trump's Proposed Plan
According to Israel's Channel 12, the US plan requires Iran to meet several demands to end the war. These demands primarily focus on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons—a claim Iran has consistently denied—and curbing its missile program.
The proposals call for Iran to:
- Commit to never pursuing nuclear weapons.
- Dismantle nuclear facilities.
- Transfer enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for monitoring.
- Limit the range and quantity of its missile program.
- Cease funding regional proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen.
- Reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a "free maritime corridor".
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies transit, has caused price spikes and raised concerns about a global economic recession.
The plan also stipulates lifting all international sanctions on Iran. These sanctions were fully reinstated last November after Iran suspended inspections of its nuclear facilities following Israeli and US bombings of its nuclear sites and military bases.
When asked to confirm these details, Trump's press secretary stated:
The White House never confirmed that full plan. There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual.
Iran's Counter-Proposals to End the War
Press TV reports that Iran has presented five conditions to conclude the conflict. These include a complete cessation of "aggression and assassinations by the enemy."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and officials have frequently expressed intentions to "cut the head of the octopus." Since the war's onset, several senior Iranian officials have been killed, including in a major Israeli air strike on Tehran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Other Iranian conditions involve establishing "concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic," though specifics regarding guarantees or participating countries remain unclear.
Economically, Iran demands compensation for war damages and reparations, as well as exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Crucially, Tehran insists that Israel cease attacks on Iranian allies in the region. Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah, announcing on Tuesday that its military would maintain an expanded buffer zone inside Lebanon until attacks on northern Israel stop.
The unnamed official cited by Press TV indicated these conditions supplement demands previously presented by Tehran during negotiations in Geneva in February, shortly before the war began.
Prospects for Ending the Conflict
Any forthcoming negotiations are expected to be led by President Trump's peace envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law.
The reported US proposals resemble the approach used by these envoys to end over two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. If this model is followed, a ceasefire would need to be declared to facilitate negotiations on any draft agreement.
Israel's Channel 12 noted that Israeli leaders might be reluctant to pause their attacks on Iran at this stage, with Netanyahu previously expressing reservations about ceasefires during Gaza negotiations.
Israel's Economy Minister, Nir Barkat, told the BBC that it was unlikely Iran would accept Trump's terms.
With Iran not confirming the talks, it remains uncertain who is representing Tehran in negotiations. President Trump has stated:
We're dealing with the right people.
These representatives are not believed to include Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtada Khamenei, who has not been seen since being wounded in the attack that killed his father.
The current Iranian leadership remains cautious about engaging in talks with the US—the war began amid negotiations to establish a new nuclear deal.
Additionally, US troops are being deployed to the region, with some speculation that they may be used to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or seize territory within Iran.
