AP reported this morning, citing two unnamed Mideast officials, that in an effort to stop the fighting, Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish mediators sent Iran and the United States a proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to give time to try and find a way to end the war. The proposal was sent late Sunday night to both Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, the officials said.
The response reported from Tehran is rejection of these ceasefire proposals, on grounds, including that they don’t lead to a permanent end to the war. This morning Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei addressed various proposals, including a 15-point American one supposedly aimed at ending Washington’s February 28-present unprovoked aggression towards the Islamic Republic, which were conveyed to Tehran via intermediaries. He spoke of this during his weekly press conference today, reported PressTV.
PressTV notes that among other things, the proposal reportedly asks Iran to forgo its peaceful nuclear activities, limit its defensive missile program, and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz that it has closed to enemies and their allies in retaliation. Iran has categorically rejected the first two provisions. It has also asserted that it would not settle for any self-described, unilateral, and unguaranteed “ceasefire” pledges, stressing that it pursues a conclusive end to any aggression targeting the country. Additionally, the Islamic Republic has demanded compensation for the extensive damage that the aggressors have inflicted upon the country’s various infrastructural facilities.
