Image: from Mario Nawfal X @MarioNawfal
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN — President Donald Trump declared on Thursday that Iran is “begging to make a deal” to end the month-long conflict with the United States and Israel. However, officials in Tehran countered the President’s optimism by issuing a formal response to Washington’s peace plan that includes a defiant list of new conditions and a claim of total authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
The diplomatic back-and-forth comes amid a devastating military campaign that has fundamentally altered the Iranian leadership structure. According to the Tasnim news agency, which cited an “informed source,” Iran delivered its official response to a 15-point U.S. proposal late Wednesday night.
Conflicting Narratives: Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump suggested that the Iranian government is reeling from the intensity of the air campaign and the loss of its top officials. “They are begging to make a deal. They’ve never been in a position like this before,” Trump said, suggesting that a breakthrough was imminent.
The report from Tasnim, however, painted a different picture, signaling a continued hardening of Tehran’s position despite the military pressure. The Iranian response reportedly asserts the nation’s “natural and legal right” over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global chokepoint for oil, and demands an immediate end to the “aggressive acts of assassination” that have decapitated the country’s political and military hierarchy.
A Leadership in Flux: The war has taken a significant toll on the Islamic Republic’s veteran leadership. Among those confirmed killed in recent strikes are the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani. The loss of these figures has created a power vacuum, yet the remaining negotiators in Tehran appear unwilling to concede.
In its formal response, Tehran has reportedly demanded “compensation and war reparations” for the damage inflicted during the hostilities. Furthermore, Iran is insisting that any cessation of hostilities must include “all resistance groups that took part in this battle throughout the region,” effectively tying a ceasefire in Iran to the activities of its proxy network in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.
The 15-Point Plan: The U.S.-led 15-point plan, which aims to permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear program and curb its regional influence, remains the primary hurdle. While the White House views the plan as a roadmap to stability, Tehran views it as a demand for total surrender.
As Washington awaits the next move, the discrepancy between the President’s public confidence and the stiff demands coming out of Tehran suggests that the road to a diplomatic resolution remains fraught with significant obstacles.