Iran on Wednesday publicly dismissed President Trump’s proposal for a cease-fire, with a military spokesman saying that Americans were “negotiating with yourselves.” At the same time, Iran’s state-run English broadcaster quoted an anonymous official as rejecting the U.S. plan and responding with a counterproposal.
Privately, however, some Iranian officials had said as late as Tuesday that Iran was considering meeting with U.S. negotiators in Islamabad, Pakistan, over the next week to discuss Mr. Trump’s proposal but would not entertain a temporary cease-fire. The officials spoke to The New York Times on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomacy.
Iran does not want a momentary pause in the fighting, the officials said at the time, fearing that Israel and the United States would use that opportunity to beef up their forces before resuming strikes.
Iran’s demands appear to have hardened since the last time it met in Geneva with American negotiators, just days before the war began Feb. 28, the Iranian officials said, though it is difficult to gauge how much of that is posturing.
On Wednesday, Press TV, Iran’s state-run English broadcaster, quoted an anonymous senior Iranian official as rejecting Mr. Trump’s proposal and responding with Iran’s conditions. Those include reparations for war damage and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, the broadcaster reported.
Other demands include an end to sanctions and a wider cease-fire for the region that protects Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group backed by Iran.
The officials said Iran would negotiate over the status of its nuclear enrichment, but not its missile program, and would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz before a peace deal was secured. Iran also planned to charge tolls on ships passing through the strait.
Farnaz Fassihi is the United Nations bureau chief for The Times, leading coverage of the organization. She also covers Iran and has written about conflict in the Middle East for 15 years.
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