Iran said on Monday that it had formulated its positions and demands in response to recent ceasefire proposals conveyed through mediators, while rejecting a temporary truce in the war with the United States and Israel.These statements came amid reports of renewed diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting. Reuters reported on Monday that Iran and the United States had received a proposal to end hostilities that could take effect on Monday. Axios also reported that the United States, Iran and regional mediators are discussing a potential 45-day ceasefire as part of a two-phase agreement aimed at ending the war permanently.Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said that Tehran had already conveyed its requirements through intermediary channels and explained that previous American proposals had been rejected.Baghaei said, in a press conference, that previous American demands, including a 15-point plan conveyed through Pakistan, are unacceptable.Baghaei said the proposal was “extremely exaggerated, unusual and illogical,” adding that Iran had a “very bitter experience in negotiating with the United States.”According to the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency, Iran’s response consists of 10 items, including ending conflicts in the region, the protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions and reconstruction.
Baghaei said: “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.”In response to an Iranian journalist’s question about ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, he added: “We have formulated our own responses” and will announce the details at the appropriate time.Baghaei said that Iran is not opposed to ending the conflict but rejects the idea of a temporary ceasefire, saying such a pause would allow its opponents to regroup and prepare for further fighting.“We call for an end to the war and to prevent its recurrence,” Baghaei was quoted as saying by the Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency.He also said that diplomacy cannot continue under military pressure.Any diplomatic talks are “absolutely inconsistent with ultimatums, crimes and threats to commit war crimes,” he said, referring to Donald Trump’s threat to bomb key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz.Separately, Iranian military officials said the country is ready to continue the conflict as long as political leaders deem it necessary.“We can continue the war as long as the political authorities deem it appropriate,” army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told the Iranian Students News Agency.He added, “The enemy must certainly regret it, because after this war we must reach a security point and not witness another war.”In a separate warning, Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Ibrahim Zolfaqari said that Iran will escalate its response if attacks on civilian targets continue.According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Zulfiqari said that if such attacks were repeated, Iranian retaliation would be on a much larger scale and the losses would be “several times greater.”
