Mar 27, 2026 - Tehran rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal on Wednesday and issued its own counter-demands as military strikes continued across the Middle East.
Iranian state media reported that Tehran dismissed the 15-point plan conveyed through Pakistani intermediaries. An unnamed senior official told Press TV that Iran would end the conflict only on its own terms and timeline. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that proposals had been reviewed by senior authorities but that Iran had no intention of negotiating at present.
The U.S. proposal, advanced by the Trump administration, sought a pause in hostilities. Details included measures related to Iran's nuclear activities, missile capabilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran was interested in reaching a deal, describing ongoing contacts as negotiations despite Tehran's public stance.
In response, Iranian officials outlined five conditions for ending the fighting. These included an immediate halt to what they described as acts of aggression, guarantees that the war would not recur, payment of war damages and reparations, cessation of hostilities on all fronts involving allied resistance groups, and formal recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
The exchanges occurred amid persistent attacks in the region. Iranian forces launched additional strikes targeting sites in Israel and Gulf Arab states, including an incident that sparked a fire at a fuel tank near Kuwait International Airport. Israeli and U.S.-linked operations continued against Iranian targets, with reports of strikes in areas such as Tabriz and Isfahan in previous days.
The conflict, which escalated in recent weeks, has involved missile and drone exchanges affecting multiple countries. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil supplies, has faced disruptions. The Trump administration has deployed additional U.S. troops to the Middle East to support regional operations.
Araghchi emphasized that the current back-and-forth did not constitute negotiations. He described it instead as an exchange of messages and rejected any notion of entering formal talks that could lead to a ceasefire without meeting Iran's core demands.
As of Thursday, no new diplomatic breakthroughs were reported. Intermediaries including Pakistan continued efforts to relay positions between the sides while military activity persisted in the region.
