Iran Rejects Latest US Ceasefire Proposal, Citing Hormuz Strait Dispute
Iran on Thursday rejected the latest ceasefire proposal from the United States, which was delivered through Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The rejection came to light as both countries continued to exchange attacks for nearly two weeks.
According to a report by the New York Times citing Iranian and Iraqi officials familiar with the situation, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi carried the proposal during his visit to Tehran after previously meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. While the exact details of the US ceasefire proposal remain unclear, Iranian officials described it as the only proposal currently on offer.
Tehran rejected Washington’s proposal because it did not resolve the dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil and gas supplies. The visit marked Al-Zaidi’s first official trip to Iran since taking office in May, accompanied by a high-level ministerial delegation for a meeting with President Masoud Pezeshkian. The talks in Tehran covered bilateral relations, regional developments, and efforts to strengthen security and stability.
Iranian officials stated the discussions also included the implementation of previously signed agreements calling for broader cooperation in trade, energy, transport, and regional affairs. According to Iranian media reports, Al-Zaidi also met with chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Local media reports indicated that Iranian officials are preparing for the possibility of a wider conflict should Trump follow through on threats to strike Tehran and other vital infrastructure. The New York Times reported that two Iranian officials stated such an attack would prompt Tehran to expand the scope of the war regionally, including targeting Tel Aviv and requesting Houthi forces in Yemen to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The news of Tehran’s rejection emerged as US forces struck Iranian targets for the thirteenth consecutive night into Friday.