Iran is pushing back hard against the U.S. cease-fire proposal by rejecting the core demands to dismantle nuclear facilities and halt uranium enrichment for an extended period. As concerns grow over a negotiating stalemate, Iran's military warned it received new operational guidance from the supreme leader and would retaliate forcefully if the United States strikes again.
On the 10th, according to major outlets including the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Reuters, Iran revealed a stark gap between the two sides in an official reply sent to the United States via mediator Pakistan. Earlier, as cease-fire conditions, the United States had demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment for the next 20 years and dismantle key nuclear facilities. Iran flatly rejected the terms and instead set the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran as a precondition.
In its reply, Iran proposed an independent plan to dilute part of its highly enriched uranium on its own and send the remainder to a third country, instead of complying with the U.S. demand to hand over all existing stockpiles. It also demanded a firm guarantee that, if talks collapse later or the United States scraps an agreement, the uranium shipped abroad would be returned. In addition, Iran pressed the United States to lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and to remove restrictions on oil sales and the freeze on overseas funds as conditions for discussing the nuclear issue over the next 30 days.
However, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing domestic sources, pushed back that the reported nuclear-related proposal by foreign media was not true and argued that a full halt to the war and the lifting of sanctions are the key conditions for a cease-fire. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump immediately expressed displeasure. On the 10th, Trump dismissed Iran's reply on the social platform Truth Social, saying it was "not to my liking. Completely unacceptable."
As diplomatic efforts struggle, military tensions between the two countries continue to rise. Reuters reported that Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya, which oversees Iran's armed forces, paid a courtesy visit to supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, reported on the military's operational readiness, and received new guidance. Abdollahi said, "Iran's armed forces are ready to confront any action by the American and Zionist (Israel) enemies," adding, "If the enemies make a mistake, Iran will respond swiftly, powerfully and decisively."
Threatening remarks from Iran's top brass continued. Mohammad Akraminia, Spokesperson for Iran's army, said in an interview with state-run IRNA, "If the enemy miscalculates again and invades our country, it will face a surprising response," adding, "This response includes new weapons, new tactics and a new battlefield." With Iran countering the U.S. proposal and hardening its stance for a strong military response, concerns about armed clashes in the Middle East are expected to persist for the time being.