Iran rejects US 15-point plan as ‘maximalist’, war rages on

Iran has rejected a 15-point ceasefire proposal from the United States, describing it as “extremely maximalist and unreasonable”, a senior diplomatic source confirmed to Al Jazeera on Wednesday. The rejection came as fighting continued across the region, with fresh drone strikes on Saudi Arabia and a residential area hit in southern Tehran.

‘Not beautiful even on paper’
A high-ranking diplomatic source in Tehran said the US proposal was “not beautiful even on paper” and called it deceptive and misleading in its presentation. The source added that no indirect talks have taken place with the US since February 28, but messages have been exchanged via several mediators. The source further stated that Iran has a clear understanding of what it wants and what it will firmly reject, unlike the other side which the source said constantly moves the goalpost.

Pakistan awaits Tehran’s response
Pakistan, which delivered the US proposal to Iran, is still awaiting a formal reply from Tehran, a senior Pakistani security official said on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has followed up with his Iranian counterpart, but no response has been received, nor any dates or venues confirmed for potential talks. A senior Iranian official had earlier said that talks, if they went ahead, could be held in either Pakistan or Turkey.

What the US proposal includes
Three Israeli cabinet sources said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet had been briefed on the US proposal. Its terms reportedly included removing Iran’s stocks of highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment, curbing Iran’s ballistic missile programme, and ending funding for regional allies. A senior Israeli defence official said Israel was sceptical Iran would agree to the terms and was concerned that US negotiators might make concessions during talks.

‘No deal, not now, not ever’
Despite the diplomatic channels, Iran’s military has taken a hardline public stance. “People like us can never get along with people like you,” the top spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command said on state TV, taunting President Trump. “As we have always said … no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever.”

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson also denied any talks, saying “no one can trust United States diplomacy” after Washington attacked while nuclear talks were already underway.

Fresh strikes across the region
The war has continued with no let-up. The Israeli military described several new waves of attacks on Iran during the day, including one targeting Iran’s ship and submarine construction facilities. The semi-official Iranian SNN News Agency said a residential area was hit in southern Tehran, with rescuers searching the rubble.

In Saudi Arabia, nearly 30 drones and one ballistic missile targeted the Eastern Province since midnight, where 70 percent of the country’s oil reserves are located. Kuwait International Airport also came under drone attack, with a fuel tank set on fire though no casualties were reported.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched new attacks against Israel and US bases in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain.

UN to debate deadly school strike
The UN Human Rights Council will hold an urgent debate on Friday over a strike on a school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on the first day of the war, which killed 168 children between the ages of seven and 12. The debate was requested by Iran, China, and Cuba.

Hezbollah vows to continue fight
Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said in a televised speech that his fighters were prepared to continue the fight “without limits” and called for unity against Israel. He also urged the Lebanese government to lift the ban on the party’s military activities.

Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed
Since the start of what the US calls “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, triggering a surge in global energy prices. Iran has told the United Nations that “non-hostile vessels” may transit the strait if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, but in practice, only Iran’s own oil and a handful of ships from friendly countries have made it through.