Washington faces two choices: accept Iran's proposals or face failure
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a strongly worded warning to the United States, demanding that it accept Iran's proposals to end the war in the Middle East or prepare for a resounding failure of its regional policies. These decisive remarks came a day after former US President Donald Trump declared that the chances of reaching a ceasefire were extremely slim, describing them as being in the "intensive care unit."
Trump's stance, which demonstrated a rejection of the Iranian response to the American proposal, has sparked widespread international and regional concerns about a potential resumption of the war that erupted in late February. In this context, Qalibaf emphasized via his official account on the "X" platform that there is no alternative to recognizing the rights of the Iranian people as outlined in Iran's 14-point proposal . He stressed that any approach ignoring these points would be "completely futile" and would only lead to a series of successive failures, warning that American hesitation would exact a heavy price from US taxpayers.
The roots of the tension and the importance of Iran's proposals in the current landscape
The roots of this escalating tension lie in years of strained relations between Tehran and Washington, particularly after the United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions. Since then, the Middle East has witnessed a series of military and security escalations affecting international shipping lanes and neighboring countries. Iran's proposals at a highly sensitive time, as Tehran seeks to redraw the rules of engagement in the region, exploiting the current global polarization. The acceptance or rejection of these proposals will have repercussions not only for Iran and the United States but will also impact maritime security in the Arabian Gulf, the stability of global energy markets, and the future of strategic alliances in the Middle East.
Details of Iranian demands to end military operations
Although the full details of the American proposal to Tehran have not been officially disclosed, consistent media reports indicate that it includes a call to end the fighting and establish a new framework for resuming negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program. In response, Iranian officials have demanded an immediate and comprehensive cessation of hostilities throughout the region, including in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes recently killed paramedics in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese Civil Defense reports.
In addition, Tehran is demanding an end to the US naval blockade of its ports and the immediate release of its frozen assets abroad, a condition repeatedly emphasized by the Iranian Foreign Ministry as essential for building trust. Qalibaf has vowed that his country will not stand idly by, but will respond forcefully and teach its adversaries a harsh lesson should attacks against it resume.
The threat of nuclear escalation and its regional and international repercussions
Amidst escalating rhetoric and political pressure, dangerous hints have emerged regarding the nuclear program. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament's National Security Committee, indicated the possibility of raising uranium enrichment to 90%, the critical level required for producing nuclear weapons. This threat represents a maximum pressure tactic aimed at forcing the international community to intervene and meet Iranian demands, which portends disastrous consequences for global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
Reinforcing this hardline stance, Iranian Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei stated, in remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency, that failure to meet the legitimate demands of the Iranian nation through diplomatic channels would lead to repeated and painful defeats for the enemy on the battlefield. This statement reflects Tehran's readiness to mobilize its proxies in the region, potentially expanding the conflict to multiple fronts and jeopardizing regional and international security.
