Iran Rejects Ceasefire Offers from Trump’s Envoy
Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been rebuffed twice by Iranian leaders in Tehran, who remain steadfast in demanding guarantees against future attacks before considering any ceasefire. Tehran’s leadership perceives that it is not losing the conflict and recognizes that the US president is under political pressure.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that a unilateral declaration from Trump claiming US victory would not end the conflict. This suggests that even if the US signaled a willingness to halt attacks, Iran might continue the conflict or maintain restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran insists the conflict cannot conclude until it convinces Trump that the economic, political, and military costs are too high to justify further aggression. The regime demands a permanent agreement that includes a US commitment not to attack Iran again.
"If a ceasefire is to be established or the war stopped there must be a guarantee that aggressive actions against Iran will not be repeated. Otherwise if another attack occurs after a few months such a ceasefire would be meaningless," said Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy foreign minister.
Regime’s Defiance Despite Early Vulnerability
This defiance is notable for a regime that, at the war’s outset 11 days ago, sought primarily to survive. The Iranian foreign ministry is engaging with numerous countries offering mediation to explore whether the war can simply stop, as it did in June last year, or whether it must end with a pact potentially including conditional lifting of US economic sanctions.
However, the prevailing sentiment among Iranian officials is confidence in their survival and a reluctance to seek any agreement at this stage. The regime faces intense diplomatic pressure at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, where over 80 nations will back a Bahrain-sponsored resolution condemning Iran for attacks on Gulf States, without criticizing the US or Israel. Russia may propose a separate motion calling for a ceasefire.
"We are absolutely NOT seeking a ceasefire," posted Mohammed Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, on social media. "Let the enemy know that whatever they do, there will certainly be a proportionate and immediate retaliation [...] We are fighting eye for eye, tooth for tooth, without compromise or exception."
IRGC’s Control Over Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has declared it will control the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage carrying nearly 20% of the world’s crude oil and about 20% of liquefied natural gas. The IRGC stated:
"At the beginning of the war we announced and we announce again no vessel associated with aggressors against Iran has the right to pass through the strait of Hormuz. If you have doubts, come closer and find out."
The IRGC also indicated it would permit passage only for ships from countries that expel their US and Israeli ambassadors.
Even Iran’s less militant President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed defiance, stating,
"The destroyers have come and gone. Iran remains."
Diplomatic Talks and US Position
Iranian diplomats argue that after two previous rounds of diplomatic talks were interrupted by US-Israeli airstrikes, there is no foundation for an agreement. Meanwhile, at a press conference on Monday night, Trump rehearsed arguments for declaring victory, suggesting that US strikes had sufficiently damaged Iran’s ballistic missile launchers and nuclear program to justify ending the attacks. However, he stopped short of declaring complete victory.
Analysts’ Perspectives on the Conflict
Alex Vatanka, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, observed,
"The regime overall think they can stay in this war and it might actually legitimise them because otherwise they have been a disaster for the country."
He attributed some of Israel’s attacks on energy infrastructure—which produced clouds of black smoke over Tehran—to alienating Iranian public opinion.
"Over the course of 24 hours you could sense the shift in Iranian public opinion from a war against regime to a war on Iran," Vatanka added.
Emile Hokayem from the International Institute for Strategic Studies highlighted Iran’s significant self-inflicted challenges, stating,
"The regime is still standing but faced a massive issue of resources. Where do the resources come from when you have lost your ability to export when Hormuz is closed because of your own threats when the region does not want to trade with you and the United Arab Emirates is considering to freeze its assets."
