Iran has turned down a US ceasefire proposal and conveyed its formal response through Pakistan, state news agency IRNA reported on Monday. The reply makes clear that Tehran is not interested in a temporary truce it is demanding a permanent end to the war.
Iran’s response is structured as a 10-clause framework that reaches well beyond an immediate halt to hostilities. At its core, Tehran is calling for a permanent cessation of conflict not just within its own borders, but also in Lebanon and Gaza backed by firm guarantees against any future resumption. Iran is also seeking recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, including the right to regulate maritime traffic and collect tolls from vessels passing through the waterway. The response was conveyed ahead of a deadline set by US President Donald Trump that had threatened strikes on Iranian energy and infrastructure.
Tehran Demands Nuclear Rights, Sanctions Relief, and War Compensation
The framework further calls for the lifting of all economic sanctions that have long strained Iran’s economy. Tehran is also seeking formal acknowledgement of its right to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as well as compensation for economic damage sustained during the conflict.
“We won’t merely accept a ceasefire,” said Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Cairo, in a statement to The Associated Press on Monday. “We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won’t be attacked again.”
Trump Says US Has “Many Alternatives,” Wants to “Finish It Up”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, President Trump acknowledged the US has “many alternatives” as the conflict continues, while signalling he is not ready to disengage. He said Washington could “leave right now” and that Iran would need years to recover, but added that he wants to “finish it up.” Trump also repeated his position that Iran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon a claim Tehran has consistently rejected, maintaining that its nuclear programme is civilian in nature.
A White House official told CBS News that the Pakistan-backed ceasefire proposal is “one of many ideas” under consideration and that Trump has not endorsed it. “Operation Epic Fury continues,” the official added.
Pakistan has been playing an active back-channel role as mediator between Washington and Tehran, working to keep communication lines open amid escalating tensions. Egypt and Turkey are also participating in the effort alongside Pakistan, helping facilitate direct message exchanges between Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
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