The conflict in the Middle East has entered a new phase as the United States and Iran presented separate counter-proposals aimed at ending the ongoing war that began three weeks ago. The crisis, which also involves Israel, continues to raise global concern as diplomatic efforts intensify to secure a ceasefire agreement. United States President Donald Trump introduced a detailed 15-point framework intended to bring the war to an end. The proposal outlined strict conditions that must be fulfilled before hostilities could stop, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear programme and regional military activities. According to the plan, nuclear facilities located in Natanz Nuclear Facility, Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, and Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant would have to be completely dismantled. The proposal also demanded full transparency under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, ensuring that all nuclear-related activities in Tehran are monitored without restriction. Washington’s proposal further required Iran to abandon the use of armed proxy groups across the region, halt the supply of weapons to allied militias, and end financial support for organizations operating outside its borders. In addition, the plan stated that Iran must surrender all enriched nuclear material to international inspectors and permanently agree not to pursue nuclear weapons development in the future. The United States government transmitted the proposal directly to Tehran, signalling the White House’s urgency to find a diplomatic exit from the conflict as economic pressure linked to the war continues to grow. Iran Rejects Proposal and Presents New Conditions Iran dismissed the 15-point framework and responded with its own list of demands, describing the American plan as unacceptable. Officials in Tehran stated that any ceasefire would only take place based on Iran’s conditions and within a timeline determined by its leadership. Iran’s counter-proposal reportedly included a demand for the closure of American military bases across the Middle East and the creation of a new shipping regulation for the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Tehran to charge transit fees for vessels passing through the channel, similar to how Egypt collects tolls at the Suez Canal. The Iranian leadership also insisted that Israel must end its military operations against the Iran-supported Lebanese group Hezbollah. Furthermore, Tehran called for the removal of all international sanctions and demanded that its missile programme remain untouched, with no negotiations permitted to limit its development. State broadcaster Press TV quoted a senior security official who confirmed that the United States proposal had been reviewed and formally rejected. The official stated that Iran would not allow Washington to decide when the war should end, stressing that the country would only agree to stop fighting when its own conditions are fully satisfied. He described the American terms as excessive and unrealistic, adding that Tehran considers the proposal one-sided and unacceptable. Iranian Military Mocks Ceasefire Efforts Iranian military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari criticised the United States for what he described as weak negotiation tactics. In a recorded message broadcast on national television, he claimed that American strategic influence in the region had turned into failure. He stated that a country claiming global dominance should have already resolved the conflict if it truly had control, adding that attempts to present defeat as diplomacy would not succeed. According to him, Iran has maintained the same position since the beginning of the war and has no intention of changing it. He added that Iran would never accept an agreement imposed by the United States and insisted that the conflict would end only when Tehran decides the time is right. Pentagon Expands Missile Production for Ongoing War As diplomatic tensions continue, the United States Department of Defense announced new agreements with major defence manufacturers to increase missile production due to the heavy use of munitions during the conflict. Contracts were signed with Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems to significantly increase the output of seeker heads used in the THAAD missile defence system, which has been widely deployed in the Middle East to intercept Iranian attacks. The Pentagon stated that the objective is to place the defence industry on a wartime production level to maintain sufficient stockpiles. Production of THAAD components is expected to increase several times over the next few years. Another agreement with Lockheed Martin will accelerate manufacturing of Precision Strike Missiles, a modern tactical ballistic weapon that replaced the older ATACMS system and has already been used during the current conflict. A separate contract with Honeywell Aerospace will expand the production of navigation systems, missile control components, and electronic warfare equipment required for modern air-to-air and ground-based missile systems. The company confirmed a long-term investment aimed at strengthening manufacturing capacity so that defence technology can be produced at a much faster rate during the war. UN Warns Middle East War Is Escalating The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, warned that the situation in the Middle East is becoming increasingly dangerous and could lead to wider global consequences if fighting continues. He stated that the conflict has gone beyond what world leaders expected and risks triggering a larger regional war. According to him, prolonged fighting will bring more human suffering and could cause serious economic disruption worldwide. Guterres urged all parties involved to return to negotiations and avoid further escalation, warning that the longer the war continues, the more difficult it will become to control its impact.
United States President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that Iran is secretly interested in reaching a peace agreement, even though officials in Tehran continue to publicly deny any involvement in negotiations. According to Trump, Iranian representatives are hesitant to admit they want a deal because they fear retaliation from their own political system. Speaking during a dinner event attended by Republican lawmakers, Trump said Iran is actively participating in discussions behind the scenes and is eager to come to an agreement. However, he suggested that Iranian negotiators are unwilling to acknowledge this openly because they believe such an admission could put their lives at risk. “They are negotiating, and they want a deal very badly,” Trump told the audience. He added that Iranian officials are worried about consequences from their own government if they confirm the talks, and also fear strong military action from the United States. Trump’s remarks came shortly after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly declared that the country had no intention of entering negotiations with Washington. Despite that statement, the US president insisted that discussions are ongoing and productive. The conflict between the United States and Iran has now entered its fourth week. Trump claimed that Iran is suffering significant losses and described the country as being heavily weakened by ongoing military pressure. Nevertheless, Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route, giving Tehran strategic leverage in the region. During his speech, Trump also criticized political opponents in the United States, accusing Democrats of attempting to distract the public from what he described as major success in the current military campaign. He argued that critics prefer to avoid calling the situation a war because doing so would require formal approval from Congress. “They don’t like to use the word war,” Trump said, adding that he would instead refer to the situation as a military operation. Earlier, the White House warned that the United States is prepared to escalate its response if Iran refuses to acknowledge defeat. Officials said the administration is ready to take stronger action if negotiations fail, while maintaining that diplomatic contacts are still taking place. Iranian state media previously reported that Tehran rejected a proposed multi-point plan from Washington, citing an unnamed official who described the response as negative. Despite that report, US officials continue to say that discussions have not stopped. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the United States remains firm in its position. She said that if Iran does not recognize the current situation, the country could face even more severe consequences. According to Leavitt, President Trump is prepared to act decisively if necessary and will not hesitate to increase military pressure. She also stated that talks are still ongoing and described them as productive, though she did not provide details about the individuals representing Iran. Questions remain about leadership inside Iran following reports surrounding the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is widely believed to be his successor, has not appeared publicly, creating uncertainty about who is currently directing negotiations. Some reports suggest that Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, may be involved in discussions with US officials, although the White House has not confirmed this information. There have also been claims that senior American officials, including Vice President JD Vance, could participate in meetings with Iranian representatives in Pakistan, a country believed to be helping mediate between both sides. Officials declined to confirm those reports. Meanwhile, the United States has deployed additional airborne troops and Marines to the Gulf region. The military buildup has fueled speculation that Washington could consider a ground operation aimed at securing oil facilities or ensuring control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important energy routes in the world. The White House has maintained its earlier estimate that the military campaign could last between four and six weeks. Trump also announced that his planned trip to China to meet President Xi Jinping was postponed due to the conflict and has now been rescheduled for mid-May. Officials say the administration continues to monitor the situation closely while keeping both military and diplomatic options open.
