Iran has rejected the American proposal for ending the war and set its own conditions, making clear it will not accept Washington's terms as presented. An Iranian source told domestic media on Wednesday that Tehran insists on ending the fighting on its own terms and timeline. At the same time, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the initial response to the proposal "is not positive" – effectively negative – but noted that Tehran is still reviewing the details.
According to a report by Al-Mayadeen, Tehran informed Pakistan that it cannot accept the 15 clauses of the American negotiating proposal. Officials quoted by Press TV (Iran's state-run English-language broadcaster) added that the American proposal is "excessive," and that Iran will end the war only at a time of its own choosing and only if its conditions are met.
According to the same officials, Iran is demanding a clear determination and guaranteed payment for war damages, alongside concrete mechanisms to prevent the conflict from recurring. They also stated that the first condition for ending the fighting is a halt to strikes and assassinations, and that Iran's military operations will continue until its conditions are fulfilled.
Reparations, guarantees, and control of Hormuz
Iranian officials added that Tehran is demanding recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz as a "natural and legal right," along with demands for war reparations and international commitments that would prevent a resumption of hostilities. It was also reported that Iran communicated through a regional intermediary that it will continue to defend itself and will not allow US President Donald Trump to dictate the timing of the war's end.
The demand for control of the Strait of Hormuz is part of a broad list of conditions that also includes wide-ranging security and economic demands, illustrating that Tehran is seeking to impose its terms as a prerequisite for any future agreement.
The American proposal, for its part, focuses on four central issues: the nuclear program, the ballistic missile arsenal, support for proxy organizations, and control of the Strait of Hormuz – core issues that underscore the depth of the divide between the parties.
Deep gaps and a lack of trust
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Iran has also set a series of additional demands, including the closure of American military bases in the Gulf, the lifting of all sanctions, the continuation of its ballistic missile program without restrictions, and guarantees that both Israel and the United States will halt their strikes.
American officials described the Iranian demands as "ridiculous and unrealistic" and assessed that they make reaching an agreement significantly more difficult. Israeli officials were similarly skeptical, with one Israeli source characterizing the conditions as reflecting what amounted to a "surrender agreement" from Iran's perspective, and doubting the regime would ever agree to them.
Diplomatic officials added that within Tehran's own leadership, there are internal disagreements over whether to engage in negotiations at all, with some factions opposed to talks entirely, while others are willing to compromise but avoid saying so publicly. At this stage, the gaps between the parties remain significant, and the prospect of an agreement appears remote.
