Iran Rejects U.S. Peace Proposal: "Washington is Negotiating with Itself"
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (which oversees both the regular military and the IRGC), issued a stinging statement via state media, suggesting that the 15-point peace plan is a product of American internal delusion.
"Has the level of your internal conflict reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?" Zolfaghari taunted, specifically referencing reported disagreements within the Trump administration—including the skepticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—regarding a potential ceasefire. He made it clear that "someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you," reaffirming that Iran’s military stance remains unchanged.
Key Points from the Iranian Military Statement:
-
Rejection of Terms: The military leadership emphasized that no compromise will be reached unless the United States recognizes the Iranian armed forces as the primary guarantors of regional stability.
-
Economic Warning: Zolfaghari warned that pre-war energy prices and the previous level of U.S. investment in the Middle East will "never return" under the current circumstances.
-
Skepticism of U.S. Unity: The spokesperson suggested that the U.S. is using the narrative of "negotiations" as a psychological tool to manipulate global markets and hide its own policy divisions.
This definitive rejection comes just a day after President Trump claimed that Tehran was "desperate" for a deal, causing a temporary 6% drop in global oil prices. However, with the Iranian military now doubling down on its "reciprocal attack" doctrine and the IRGC threatening to paralyze regional energy grids if strikes continue, the 5-day "pause" announced by the White House appears increasingly fragile.
