Iran has rejected a US ceasefire proposal and conveyed its response through Pakistan, state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency reported on Monday. The response makes clear that Tehran is not open to a temporary truce, instead stressing the need for a "permanent end to war."
Iran’s reply is structured as a 10-clause framework that goes beyond an immediate ceasefire. At the core, Iran is asking for a permanent end to the war, not just within its borders but also in Lebanon and Gaza, along with firm guarantees that the conflict will not restart. It also wants recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, including the right to regulate traffic and collect tolls from ships passing through the route.
The response came ahead of Trump's deadline to attack bombing Iranian energy and infrastructure.
The proposal also calls for all economic sanctions to be lifted, which have long put pressure on Iran’s economy. In addition, Tehran is seeking formal acknowledgement of its right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), along with compensation for the economic damage caused by the war.
"We won’t merely accept a ceasefire," Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press on Monday. "We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won’t be attacked again."
Speaking to reporters on Monday, US President Donald Trump said the US has "many alternatives" as the conflict continues, but hinted he is not ready to step back just yet. He said Washington could "leave right now" and that it would take Iran years to recover, but added that he wants to "finish it up". He also reiterated that "Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied, insisting its nuclear programme is not aimed at developing weapons.
At the same time, a White House official told CBS News that the Pakistan-backed ceasefire proposal is "one of many ideas" under consideration, but Donald Trump has not signed off on it. "Operation Epic Fury continues," he added.
Pakistan has been actively acting as a mediator between Iran and the United States, working behind the scenes to keep communication channels open amid boiling tensions. Egypt and Turkey, alongside Pakistan, are facilitating direct message exchanges between Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Source: India Today