TEHRAN, April 6: On Monday, Iran rejected the latest ceasefire proposal, stating it wants a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press, “We won’t merely accept a ceasefire… We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won’t be attacked again.” Iran conveyed its response through Pakistan, a key mediator.
The rejection comes as US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum approaches, centered on Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane for a fifth of the world’s oil.
Ferdousi Pour added that Iranian and Omani officials are working on a mechanism to administer the strait, whose blockage has already driven up global oil prices.
The rejection followed Israel’s strike on the South Pars natural gas field, shared with Qatar, the world’s largest, killing two paramilitary Revolutionary Guard commanders. Israel said the attack aimed to cut Iran’s revenue and target a key source of electricity production.
The strike appeared separate from Trump’s demands. Meanwhile, Trump warned Iran that failure to comply with the strait’s reopening would result in setting the country “back to the stone ages.”
While giving multiple deadlines, Trump commented at a White House Easter event that Iran is “strong, but not as strong as a month ago,” confirming Tuesday at 8 pm Washington time as a possible final deadline.
Israel threatens Iranian officials as mediators try to buy time
Egyptian, Pakistani, and Turkish mediators proposed a 45-day ceasefire and reopening of the strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff received the proposal, but Iran rejected it, calling negotiations “entirely incompatible with ultimatums, crimes and threats of war crimes.”
Pakistan’s ceasefire efforts are reportedly advanced, though “spoilers and detractors” are complicating progress.
Meanwhile, explosions rocked Tehran as low-flying jets were reported over the city. Iran confirmed the deaths of Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, head of intelligence for the Revolutionary Guard, and Asghar Bakeri, leader of the Quds Force’s undercover unit, in Israeli strikes.
Israel Katz, defense minister, vowed to continue targeting top officials. Israeli forces also struck Bahram, Mehrabad, and Azmayesh airports, damaging helicopters and aircraft.
Gulf neighbors Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi Arabia activated air defenses to intercept Iranian missiles and drones, while Tehran maintained pressure on regional infrastructure. Iranian missiles hit northern Haifa in Israel, killing four family members.
Oil prices unsettled as pressure grows
Iran’s attacks on regional energy infrastructure and control over the Strait of Hormuz have driven Brent crude oil prices to USD 109 per barrel, roughly 50% higher than before the conflict. US stocks remained largely steady.
Former Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayatir warned Arab countries against potential US strikes on Iranian power plants, cautioning the region could go “dark.”
Since the war began on February 28, Iran has allowed some vessels through the strait, though none belong to the US or Israel, and traffic is down over 90% compared to the same period last year. (AP)
