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🇮🇷 Tehran Mocks US Negotiation Claims
Iran’s military leadership has sharply dismissed President Donald Trump’s claims of progress in negotiations to end the war, accusing the US of “negotiating with itself” as the conflict enters its second month .
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, directly challenged Trump: “Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself? Don’t call your failure an agreement” .
The rejection came as Trump told reporters the US was in talks with “the right people” in Iran and claimed Iran was “totally defeated” militarily . Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed these reports as “fake news” aimed at manipulating financial and oil markets .
What Iran Demands
While publicly rejecting negotiations, Iranian officials have signaled their conditions for any ceasefire :
- War reparations from the United States
- Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz—the critical waterway through which 20% of global oil passes
- No US right to dictate the timing or terms of the war’s end
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Iran has no intention of negotiating, while state television declared Iran “will not allow Trump to dictate the timing of the war’s end” .
Fighting Intensifies
Despite talk of diplomacy, hostilities have escalated:
The Pentagon has now struck over 10,000 military targets in Iran, claiming two-thirds of Iran’s missile, drone and naval production facilities destroyed .
Oil Markets and Economic Fallout
Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered the worst energy supply shock in history . Iranian officials warn oil prices “will never return to former levels” until the US ceases its campaign . The International Energy Agency has approved a record 400 million barrel release from strategic stockpiles to stabilize markets .
🇵🇰 Pakistan Offers to Mediate
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has offered to host US-Iran talks, with Islamabad reportedly relaying messages between the two sides . Egyptian, Turkish, and Omani officials are also engaged in mediation efforts .
What’s Next
Israel, concerned Trump may end the war prematurely, has ordered a 48-hour intensified campaign to destroy as much of Iran’s military capacity as possible . Meanwhile, the US has circulated a 15-point peace plan demanding complete termination of Iran’s nuclear program and strict missile limits—terms Tehran has publicly rejected .
With both sides claiming victory and no ceasefire in sight, the conflict appears poised to continue into its second month.
