TEHRAN, Mar 26 (V7N) – The White House has issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran, warning that the United States is prepared to launch a "bigger attack" and "unleash hell" if Iran refuses to accept a newly proposed 15-point ceasefire plan. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Wednesday that President Donald Trump "does not bluff" and emphasized that any further escalation would be a direct consequence of Iran’s failure to recognize what Washington describes as its "military defeat." This warning follows four weeks of intense conflict, including the recent "Operation Epic Fury," which the U.S. claims has significantly degraded Iran’s naval and military infrastructure.
In a televised interview, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi firmly rejected claims by President Trump that direct negotiations are currently underway between Washington and Tehran. While Araghchi acknowledged that messages are being exchanged through intermediaries—including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt—he clarified that these do not constitute formal dialogue. "Discussing negotiations at this stage would amount to an admission of defeat," Araghchi stated, adding that Iran’s current strategy remains one of "resistance" until its own sovereign conditions are met. Tehran has characterized the U.S. proposal as "irrational" and "excessive."
The U.S. 15-point plan reportedly includes demands for the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, a total halt to uranium enrichment, and strict limits on its ballistic missile capabilities. In exchange, Washington has offered a full lifting of economic sanctions and support for a civilian nuclear energy program. A critical point of contention remains the Strait of Hormuz; the U.S. demands its immediate reopening to international shipping, while Tehran insists on formal recognition of its absolute sovereignty over the vital oil route.
Tehran has countered with its own five-point demand, which includes an immediate halt to all "aggression and assassinations," concrete guarantees against future military action, and the payment of war reparations for damages incurred since the conflict began on February 28. As the diplomatic deadlock deepens, the Pentagon is reportedly preparing to mobilize additional forces, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, to the region. With both sides dug into their positions, the international community remains on high alert for a potential escalation of the month-long war.
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