Iran rejects US ceasefire proposal, sets sweeping conditions for permanent end to hostilities

Iran has formally rejected a proposed 45-day ceasefire brokered by the United States and relayed through Pakistan, state-run IRNA reported on Monday. In its response, Tehran instead laid out a comprehensive set of demands for a permanent halt to all military operations across the Middle East.

According to IRNA, Iranian officials dismissed the temporary truce as insufficient and submitted counter-terms that address multiple regional flashpoints. The demands include:

· A permanent cessation of hostilities across all theaters, including Lebanon and Gaza, backed by enforceable guarantees.
· The complete dismantling of all U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf region.
· A new transit protocol recognizing Iranian jurisdiction over the Strait of Hormuz, including the right to collect tolls from vessels.
· The full lifting of all economic sanctions imposed on Iran.
· Formal acknowledgment of Iran’s right to peaceful uranium enrichment under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the UN Charter.
· Reparations for economic damages Tehran says it has suffered during the course of the war.

The proposal, reportedly conveyed by Pakistani intermediaries, had sought a brief pause in hostilities. Iran’s rejection signals a significant widening of demands beyond any temporary arrangement, linking a ceasefire to structural changes in U.S. military posture, sanctions policy, and regional maritime governance.

As of now, there has been no immediate response from Washington or from Pakistani officials regarding the Iranian counter-offer. The development adds further complexity to already fragile diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions across the Middle East.