Live updates: US awaits Iran’s response to latest proposal to end war

# Iran US war proposal: Tehran studies American ceasefire plan amid escalating Gulf tensions

*Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat*

Iranian officials received a written US proposal on Monday night aimed at halting the nine-week conflict that has killed more than 1,400 people across the Persian Gulf region.

The document reached Tehran through Omani intermediaries after President Donald Trump authorized the back-channel approach on Sunday, two senior administration officials confirmed to GlobalBeat. Iranian diplomats acknowledged receipt but gave no timeline for response.

The proposal marks the first direct US communication to Iran since American airstrikes began March 3 following an Iranian-backed attack that killed 27 US soldiers at Al-Asad airbase in Iraq. Previous indirect exchanges through Switzerland ended after Trump ordered the bombing campaign that has hit more than 60 targets inside Iran.

**Ceasefire structure emerges**

The three-page American plan offers an immediate cessation of hostilities in exchange for Iran’s agreement to dismantle its nuclear enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordow under international supervision, according to officials familiar with the text. Tehran must also cease support for armed groups in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

“They want us to surrender our entire deterrent capability in return for stopping bombs,” an Iranian foreign ministry official told reporters in Tehran, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the proposal publicly. The official called the terms “humiliating” but said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would review them.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to discuss details when asked Tuesday morning. “We have put forward ideas for ending the violence,” Rubio told reporters at the State Department. “The ball is in Iran’s court.”

**Regional capitals react warily**

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both targeted by Iranian missile attacks during the conflict, expressed skepticism about any deal that leaves Tehran’s regional networks intact. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan warned against repeating “the mistakes of previous agreements that addressed nuclear issues while ignoring Iran’s destabilizing activities.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a brief statement saying Israel “will not be bound by any arrangements that fail to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat completely.” Israeli forces have conducted their own strikes against Iranian targets in Syria during the conflict.

China’s foreign ministry urged restraint from both sides while backing diplomatic efforts. Beijing has significant economic interests in Iran and imports roughly 10% of its oil from the country. Russia, which has provided Iran with advanced air defense systems, offered to mediate separate talks in Moscow if Washington’s proposal falters.

**Battlefield situation remains fluid**

Despite diplomatic overtures, fighting continued across multiple fronts overnight. US Central Command reported bombing raids against IRGC naval facilities at Bandar Abbas, destroying fast attack boats that Washington says threatened commercial shipping. Iran claimed it shot down 4 American drones over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Pentagon acknowledged losing contact with “some unmanned platforms” but refuses to confirm Iranian claims. A defense official said ground operations remain suspended after the March helicopter crash that killed 22 Navy SEALs attempting to board an Iranian tanker.

Iranian state television broadcast images of anti-aircraft fire over Tehran early Tuesday, claiming successful interception of US cruise missiles. The reports could not be independently verified as foreign journalists remain barred from military sites.

**Economic pressure mounts**

The nine-week conflict has disrupted global energy markets, with Brent crude trading above $95 per barrel despite US releases from strategic reserves. Insurance rates for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz have increased 15-fold, forcing many shipping companies to route vessels around Africa.

Iran’s economy, already crippled by sanctions, contracted an estimated 8% in the first quarter of 2026 according to the International Monetary Fund. Inflation exceeds 50% as the rial trades at record lows. Basic goods shortages prompted rare protests in Tehran and Isfahan last week that security forces dispersed with tear gas.

The US has seized 3 Iranian oil tankers in international waters since hostilities began, redirecting their cargo to American ports. Combined sanctions enforcement actions have blocked approximately $2.8 billion in Iranian oil revenue, Treasury officials said.

## Background

US-Iran relations collapsed after Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal that limited Tehran’s atomic program in exchange for sanctions relief. The administration reimposed crippling economic penalties, arguing the agreement failed to address Iran’s missile program and regional activities.

Tensions escalated through 2025 as Iran enriched uranium closer to weapons-grade levels while supplying Russia with kamikaze drones for use in Ukraine. The cycle of escalation reached breaking point on March 3 when a drone strike attributed to Iranian-backed militias killed 27 US soldiers at Al-Asad airbase in Iraq.

Trump’s initial response targeted IRGC facilities across Iran, beginning an aerial campaign that has expanded to include energy infrastructure and weapons factories. Iran retaliated with ballistic missile strikes against US bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, killing dozens more American personnel.

## What’s Next

Omani officials expect an Iranian response “within days rather than weeks” according to diplomatic sources, as Tehran weighs whether to counter-offer or reject American terms outright. Washington set no formal deadline but officials say military operations will continue during any diplomatic pause.

European powers including Britain, France and Germany have requested UN Security Council consultations for Thursday, potentially complicating private negotiations. Any ceasefire would require monitoring mechanisms and enforcement provisions that could take weeks to negotiate if Iran shows willingness.

Iranian diplomatic contacts suggest Supreme Leader Khamenei has authorized exploratory discussions while keeping military options open. Hardline Revolutionary Guard commanders oppose concessions after suffering heavy casualties, while pragmatists warn continuing conflict could threaten regime stability.

The proposal’s future hinges on whether either side can accept terms their domestic audiences will tolerate after weeks of bloodshed. Both Trump and Khamenei face pressure from hardliners opposing compromise, making any settlement politically perilous even if military necessity grows apparent.