Iran Stands Firm on Demands to End War Despite US Strikes

The Iranian government has reported additional United States military strikes, but officials insist that this mounting pressure will not impact Tehran's demands to end the ongoing war. Ahmad Nafisi, deputy governor for Hormozgan where overnight raids occurred, confirmed that Qeshm island was targeted without causing damage to residential areas or vital infrastructure. While Washington has not directly acknowledged the latest attacks, Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously characterised similar operations as defensive.

Mediators are actively working to prevent large-scale US attacks on Iran, with talks continuing. However, Washington appears reluctant to accept Iran's seven demands for concluding the conflict, which include lifting sanctions and removing the southern port blockade. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejected Rubio's characterisation of these terms as unrealistic, calling the Iranian plan the most logical option to restore regional security.

Iran Stands Firm Against Pressure

The proposed terms largely mirror the Islamabad memorandum of understanding signed earlier by both nations, alongside new stipulations regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King’s College London, noted that Washington objects to Iran demanding agreement rewards before offering concessions. Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that military operations remain unfinished, while regional shipping lanes face continued navigation warnings and reports of multiple tanker attacks over the past ten days.

Tehran insists that mounting US military pressure will not alter its demands to end the conflict.

President Donald Trump downplayed the likelihood of total war resuming, though he mentioned that infrastructure targets remain marked if hostilities escalate. Analysts expect Tehran to maintain a strategy of controlled escalation rather than executing an immediate full-scale retaliation against the ongoing air raids.

Why it matters

Ongoing talks and military actions around the Strait of Hormuz directly impact global shipping lanes and regional stability. Preventing a wider conflict remains crucial for international maritime commerce and security in the Persian Gulf.