What Are the Contents of Trump's 15-Point Peace Plan? Why Does Iran Reject It?

On Tuesday (24/03), US President Donald Trump stated that Iran “very much wants” negotiations and that Iranian negotiators had given the US a “very significant gift”. Trump said the “gift” related to oil and gas as well as the Strait of Hormuz, without providing further details.

However, Iran’s parliamentary speaker dismissed the assumption of any talks taking place.

“There are no negotiations being conducted with the US, and fake news [sic] is being used to manipulate financial and oil markets and to escape the quagmire that has trapped the US and Israel,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on social media platform X.

Clearly, messages are indeed being conveyed from the US to Iran, but indirectly. These messages are delivered by several intermediaries, such as Pakistan, which has good relations with both governments.

This is certainly different from formal “negotiations”, an explanation that may be the reason why Iran’s parliamentary speaker and military spokesperson strongly deny that negotiations are underway.

Indirect contacts do exist, as do communication channels between the two sides. However, reaching an agreement still seems far from reality.

For example, recently, a 15-point plan from US President Donald Trump to end the war has emerged. The proposal includes Iran’s commitment not to build nuclear weapons and to reopen the highly strategic Strait of Hormuz.

However, Iran immediately rejected it, according to the government-run Iranian media Press TV.

Quoting an unnamed “senior political-security official”, the media outlined five conditions from Tehran to end the conflict, including payment of compensation for damages.

These conditions have no commonality with Trump’s proposal, which was publicised by Israeli media Channel 12 and confirmed by US officials.

What is the content of the 15-point peace plan proposed by Trump?

The BBC has not yet obtained access to the plan document claimed by President Trump to have been sent to Iran. There is also no official confirmation regarding its contents. However, several international media outlets have begun to reveal some details.

According to the Israeli news channel Channel 12, the plan includes the following requirements:

The proposal demands that Iran “commit to never realising nuclear weapons”, promise to dismantle nuclear facilities, and hand over enriched uranium reserves to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog.

According to the proposal, Iran must agree to restrictions on its missile programme, both in terms of range and quantity.

In addition, Iran must stop funding proxy groups in the Middle East region, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Houthis in Yemen.

Iran would also be required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to function as a “free maritime corridor”.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which ships carry one-third of the world’s oil and gas supplies, has caused fuel prices to soar and triggered concerns of a global economic recession.

In return, the US would help develop the nuclear project in Bushehr to supply electricity needs for civilians.

Then, according to the plan, all international sanctions against Iran would be lifted.

Full sanctions were reimposed in November after Iran suspended inspections of its nuclear facilities following bombings of several nuclear sites and military bases by the US and Israel.

What is the White House’s response?

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt was ambiguous when asked about the 15-point peace plan between the US and Iran. (Getty Images)

On Wednesday (25/03), White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt responded to a reporter’s question regarding the 15-point peace plan that leaked to the media.

Leavitt described the report as “speculative” and stated that some of the published information “is not entirely accurate”, although she acknowledged that the plan “contains elements of truth”.

However, she emphasised that she would not discuss “minor” details regarding ongoing conversations.

The press secretary also refused to answer questions about the possibility of deploying US troops on Iranian soil. Nevertheless, she stated that such a step would not require formal authorisation from Congress.

When asked how close the end of the war is, Leavitt reiterated the White House’s position that the US is “ahead of schedule” and described it as a very successful operation.

What is Iran’s counter-proposal?

Initially, Iran rejected the 15-point peace plan outright.

However, on Wednesday (25/03), Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state media that “a number of ideas” had been conveyed to several senior government officials.

“If an official stance is needed regarding these ideas, that stance will certainly be determined,” he said.

Araghchi said Iran “does not intend to negotiate at this time”.

However, he confirmed that “the American side has begun sending various messages through various intermediaries.”

The Iranian government has not collapsed despite being attacked by the US and Israel. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)

Previously, as reported by Press TV, Iran proposed five conditions to end the war.

The unnamed Iranian official told Press TV that these conditions are an addition to the demands previously submitted by Tehran in negotiations in Geneva in February, shortly before the war began.

The conditions include a total cessation of “aggression and killings by the enemy”. Several high-ranking Iranian officials have died since the first day of the war, including