[ANALYSIS] Iranian War Day 73: Iran rejects US proposal as Trump calls response “totally unacceptable”

OVERVIEW

• Iran submitted its response to the latest US proposal to end the war, with Trump calling it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE”.
• Iranian state media said the US proposal amounted to Tehran surrendering to Trump’s excessive demands.
• Iran’s counter-position stressed US compensation for war damages, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief and release of blocked assets.

US / IRAN TALKS

• Trump said he had read Iran’s response and did not like it, calling it “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE”.
• Trump accused Iran of “DELAY, DELAY, DELAY” and attacked the Obama-era Iran deal.
• Iran submitted its response via Pakistan, according to IRNA and Reuters citing a Pakistani official.
• Iranian state media said Iran rejected the US plan because it would have meant submission to Trump’s excessive demands.
• Iran’s proposal called for US war reparations, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over Hormuz, an end to sanctions and release of blocked Iranian assets.
• Iranian media said Iran’s proposal demanded an immediate end to the war, guarantees against renewed attacks, and an end to the US naval blockade after an initial understanding.
• Iranian President Pezeshkian said negotiation does not mean surrender or retreat, but defending Iran’s rights and national interests.
• An Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Iran’s response to the US plan was realistic and positive.
• WSJ reported on Friday that the US and Iran were working with mediators on a 14-point MoU for a month of talks, potentially as early as next week in Islamabad.
• Pakistani journalist Mallick posted, "To my understanding, Contrary to publicly put out positions and statements, diplomacy and back channel talks and contacts between Iran and US to work out a draft agreement continues to be in the works -- Diplomacy is not dead."
• Iran reportedly offered a shorter uranium enrichment suspension than the US’s proposed 20-year moratorium and rejected dismantling nuclear facilities in future talks, according to WSJ.
• YJC, citing Al Mayadeen, reported Iran said any US deal must end the war and trigger 30-day talks, while Hormuz control and a Lebanon ceasefire remain red lines.
• Iran also demanded an end to oil sanctions and release of assets.
• Tehran stated "its main condition for the ceasefire is the cessation of conflicts on all fronts, from Gaza and Lebanon to Yemen", Mehr reported.

SHIPPING

• US CENTCOM said more than 20 warships are enforcing the blockade and that US forces have redirected 61 commercial vessels and disabled four to ensure compliance.
• US CENTCOM said US Marines are prepared to intercept non-compliant ships, while Marines are conducting boarding drills amid the Iran blockade, according to Fox News.
• Iran’s deputy foreign minister warned British and French warships near Hormuz would be met with an immediate decisive response.
• The UK said HMS Dragon is deploying to the Middle East to pre-position for a potential defensive multinational mission to protect shipping when conditions allow.
• French President Macron said France never envisaged a direct naval deployment in Hormuz and said any mission would be coordinated with Iran.
• UK and France will host defence ministers from dozens of countries on Tuesday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz.
• UK is to deploy a warship to the Middle East as part of European-led planning to escort ships once a stable ceasefire is established.
• Three tankers carrying 6mln barrels of oil exited the Strait of Hormuz, Sky News reports citing new data

ISRAEL

• Israeli PM Netanyahu said the war with Iran is not over because nuclear material remains in Iran and still needs to be removed.
• Netanyahu said Israel would not agree to a Lebanon ceasefire as part of any deal to end the US-Israeli war against Iran.
• Netanyahu and Trump discussed Iran and Lebanon, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.
• Israeli reports said Trump told Netanyahu “I want to go in” regarding Iranian nuclear sites.