Iran has rejected a renewed ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump that was delivered through Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Iran has rejected a renewed ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump that was delivered through Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, according to a report by The New York Times citing Iranian and Iraqi officials familiar with the discussions.
The report said al-Zaidi carried the proposal to Tehran following his recent meeting with Trump at the White House. The details of the proposed ceasefire were not disclosed.
According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Iranian authorities viewed the proposal as the only offer currently under consideration but were unwilling to accept a temporary ceasefire that did not address the issue of control over the Strait of Hormuz.
During his visit to Tehran, al-Zaidi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to Iranian media.
Speaking to state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Araghchi said it was natural for the Iraqi Prime Minister to share his observations following his visit to Washington.
“The Iraqi Prime Minister, of course, had a trip to Washington. It is natural that they would convey their views and perceptions from this trip to us, which is normal,” Araghchi said.
The Iranian foreign minister also criticised Washington’s approach towards Tehran.
“The problem is the type of American approach, which is the irrational, excessive, and hegemonic approach of this country, which has been confronted by the authoritative approach of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
The reported rejection comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran.
According to the report, US forces have carried out strikes targeting Iranian military facilities as well as civilian infrastructure, including railways, airports, bridges and seaports. Iran, in turn, has launched ballistic missile and drone attacks against US military targets in West Asia.
The New York Times also reported, citing two Iranian officials, that Iran’s armed forces were preparing for the possibility of a wider conflict if the United States carries out further strikes against Tehran and key infrastructure.
The officials said Iran could broaden the confrontation across the region, including by targeting Tel Aviv and seeking assistance from Yemen’s Houthi movement to disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a strategic maritime route linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The United States and Iran have not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire proposal or the claims surrounding its rejection.
