Iran has flatly rejected an American ceasefire proposal and issued its own list of counter-demands, even as US President Donald Trump threatens to unleash devastating strikes on Iranian infrastructure if no agreement is reached by Tuesday evening.
Trump described Tehran’s response to Washington’s ceasefire offer as “significant” but ultimately “not good enough,” leaving both sides locked in a dangerous standoff with no clear resolution in sight.
The American president has set an 8 pm Eastern Time deadline Tuesday for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though his deadlines have shifted at least three times in the past three weeks.
If no agreement is reached, Trump has threatened the “complete demolition” of Iran’s key infrastructure, warning Monday that “very little is off-limits.”
“Within four hours, every bridge and power plant in the nation will be decimated,” Trump warned, adding that to avoid such a fate, Iran must make a deal “that’s acceptable to me,” which must include “free traffic of oil” through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran is demanding the lifting of longstanding American sanctions, a compromise on uranium enrichment, and the establishment of a new order governing the Strait of Hormuz – terms Washington has so far found unacceptable.
Iran’s military has also dismissed Mr Trump’s threats as “delusional,” saying they cannot conceal what it described as American “disgrace and humiliation” in the region, according to Iranian state media.
Iranian officials have also firmly vowed to retaliate against any strikes on the country’s infrastructure, and Tehran has refused to consider even a temporary ceasefire.
Al Jazeera has reported that US-Israeli strikes across Iran have intensified, with universities and oil facilities among the civilian targets hit. Iranian missiles and drones have simultaneously continued to target sites across the Gulf region.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which leads military operations in the Middle East, said its forces have attacked more than 13,000 Iranian targets since the conflict began.
According to a US-based human rights group, more than 3,500 people have been killed in Iran since the start of the US-Israeli offensive, including at least 1,665 civilians. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said Monday recorded the “highest rate of attacks” in 10 days, with 49 civilians killed in a single day.
Iran’s Fars news agency reported that railway services have been cancelled in Mashhad, in the country’s north-east, following a warning from the Israeli military that Iranians should avoid traveling by train as it “endangers your life.”
The governor of Mashhad confirmed that trains would cease operations “until further notice” as a precaution, while authorities said alternative road transport remained available for passengers who could not delay their journeys.
Iran also launched fresh missile salvoes at Israel.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that its air defence systems were working to intercept the incoming missiles, and subsequently cleared members of the public to leave sheltered spaces after earlier ordering them to take cover.
(Premium Times)
