Donald Trump is not smiling anymore over Iran (Photo: flickr/Trump White House)
Iran says the United States is “talking to itself” after Donald Trump offered up a ceasefire deal on Wednesday.
The US plan, which has not been made public, reportedly demanded Iran dismantle its nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
But Iran rejected US proposals—and issued its own set. This calls for a “complete halt to aggression and assassinations” and “concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed”, according to Iranian media.
It wants the “conclusion of war on all fronts throughout the region” and “guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations”.
And the proposals call for “international recognition and guarantees regarding Iran’s sovereign right to exercise authority over the Strait of Hormuz”.
Trump had claimed that the US was “talking to the right leaders” who “want to make a deal so badly”.
“Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s central command, said.
Another Iranian official said, “The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion.”
With oil prices skyrocketing and the unpopularity of the war escalating, the proposal is a signal of Trump’s desperation.
Just days before the proposal, Trump gave Iran 48 hours to end the war or the US and Israel would attack Iran’s energy infrastructure. He backed down from that threat—and is now pushing for the war to end.
The US proposal, laid out in a 15-point plan and to be negotiated through Pakistan, begins with a 30-day ceasefire.
But, desperate to declare victory in the war, the US is pushing more aggressive demands mainly around Iran’s nuclear power. The plan requires the dismantling of nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, as well as a handover of Iran’s enriched uranium to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The demands around limiting Iran’s nuclear power are consistent with what the US wanted during the nuclear talks.
Trump abandoned those talks, even after Iran suggested it was willing to make some concessions, to try and force it into agreement.
Meanwhile, Israel is not willing to back down without regime change—and is spreading the war to southern Lebanon. Trump hopes that the more aggressive demands would be enough for Israel to fall into line.
But, in a sign of US weakness, the plan makes a crucial concession. It says the US will lift all sanctions imposed on Iran and the end of the United Nations mechanism which allows sanctions to be reapplied.
Despite the bombardment, the Iranian regime remains in a strong position due to its control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The US has lifted sanctions on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil, currently at sea, in an effort to temporarily reduce oil prices.
But without the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz prices will continue to skyrocket. And Iran’s attacks on oil infrastructure in the wider region have an impact—strikes on Qatar have wiped out 17 percent of its export capacity.
Amid Trump’s new-found diplomacy is a massive US military build-up in the region. US central command says there are 50,000 troops in the Middle East. That includes 200 combat aircraft and two aircraft carriers.
The US announced 1,000 more troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, as the latest addition on Wednesday.
Fascist Tommy Robinson didn’t receive the same treatment
Russia has threatened revenge after British-made drones targeted its oil refineries and transport networks
Progressive candidate has won primary in Republican dominated state
Rank-and-file rebellion secures pay rise
