Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei. AFP
Several media outlets reported on Monday that Iran and the United States had received a draft proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, citing sources familiar with the talks.
Egyptian, Pakistani, and Turkish mediators put forward the proposal, hoping the 45-day period would allow time for negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.
During a press briefing, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran had outlined its demands to end the war based on national interests and communicated them through intermediaries. He added that details of the response would be announced “when necessary.”
“Iran does not hesitate to clearly express what it considers its legitimate demands, and doing so should not be interpreted as a sign of compromise, but rather as a reflection of its confidence in defending its positions,” Baghaei said.
He also referred to an earlier US proposal, saying Tehran had rejected it. “Recently, a so-called 15-point proposal was conveyed through Pakistan and some other friendly countries. At the time, we made it clear that these proposals were unconventional, illogical, and excessively demanding,” he said, adding that Iran has a “very bitter experience of negotiating with the US.”
Baghaei added that any diplomatic talks are “absolutely incompatible with ultimatums, crimes, and threats to commit war crimes,” referring to comments by US President Donald Trump about striking Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump told Axios on Sunday that the United States was “in deep negotiations” with Iran and that a deal could be reached before his Tuesday deadline. “There is a good chance, but if they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there,” he said.
He has threatened to strike Iran’s critical infrastructure if the government does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and repeated the warning in a social media post, saying Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.”
If carried out, such attacks could constitute war crimes. Iran has also threatened to retaliate by targeting infrastructure in Israel and Gulf states.
On Monday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran would not reopen the strait as part of a temporary ceasefire and would not accept deadlines or pressure to reach a deal, adding that Washington was not ready for a permanent ceasefire.
Separately, Iranian Armed Forces Spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said if attacks on civilian targets are repeated, Iran’s retaliation would be on a much wider scale and losses would be “several times greater,” according to Tasnim News Agency.
Short link: