Is there an end in sight to the chaos in the Middle East? Iran has set a high bar for a possible ceasefire with the United States, as tensions have been escalating since February 28. The ongoing military exchanges between the US-Israel coalition and Iran have created a constantly evolving situation. Meanwhile, apart from Tehran’s demands, the US has offered a 15-point proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.What began as a targeted mission against then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of Donald Trump’s Operation Epic Fury, in coordination with Benjamin Netanyahu’s Operation Roaring Lion, has now escalated into daily, large-scale bombings across the region, including the cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.Despite losing its longest-serving leader, the Tehran regime has consolidated power within the Iranian government and the IRGC, according to the Wall Street Journal. The report also detailed the demands of the regime now under Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
What Iran is demanding
According to the report, Tehran has asked the Trump administration to close all American bases in the Gulf region and provide reparations for attacks on Iranian territory. Additionally, Iran seeks to collect fees for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, similar to how Egypt charges for passage through the Suez Canal.The demand included the lifting of all US-imposed sanctions.The regime also wants guarantees that the war will not resume and an end to Israeli strikes on Iran-aligned militias, including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Allowing Iran to maintain its missile program without any negotiations to limit it remains a major sticking point.However, the Trump administration appears unwilling to entertain Tehran’s demands. A US official described them as “ridiculous and unrealistic.” Arab and US officials warned that such posturing could make reaching a deal with Tehran even harder than before Trump launched the war.The officials added that the first signals of the new diplomatic round came through Middle Eastern intermediaries late last week, and that there has been no direct contact between the US and Iran.
US offers 15-point proposal to Iran
US President Donald Trump has shared a 15-point proposal with Iran aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “All starts with, they cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, signalling a renewed diplomatic push even as military operations continue, according to a New York Times report citing officials familiar with the matter.Pakistan initiated the conveyance of proposal that addressed the key issues including Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, as Washington seeks an “offramp” from a war now in its fourth week, which has widened to involve multiple countries.Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Trump is proposing a one-month ceasefire, during which the sides would discuss a plan including the handover of Iran’s enriched uranium and a ban on further enrichment. The New York Times noted it had not reviewed the document directly but was told it also addresses maritime security concerns. Since the conflict began on February 28, Iran has effectively restricted Western shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil and gas supplies and driving up prices.Following compliance with the plan, Iran would see an end to all sanctions, which have been in place in various forms for years, the Israeli report said. Iran would also receive assistance in developing civil nuclear energy at Bushehr, a key site that predates the 1979 Islamic revolution.It remains unclear how widely the proposal has been circulated within Iran’s leadership or whether Tehran is willing to engage on its basis. There is also no clarity on whether Israel supports the initiative. Despite the diplomatic outreach, hostilities show no immediate signs of easing. Israeli officials have indicated that military operations could continue for weeks.Acknowledging parallel diplomatic efforts, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “As President Trump and his negotiators explore this newfound possibility of diplomacy, Operation Epic Fury continues unabated to achieve the military objectives laid out by the commander in chief and the Pentagon.”Pakistan’s de facto head and army chief Asim Munir, have positioned themselves as possible intermediaries, leveraging reported ties with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to facilitate communication. Officials said Egypt and Turkey are also encouraging Tehran to engage constructively.Munir has reached out to Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, proposing that Pakistan host talks between the two sides, the report says. Supporting the initiative, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country “fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end” the conflict. “Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict,” he added.Iran’s ability to respond quickly remains uncertain.
