Iran has rejected the idea of reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, as per a statement by a senior Iranian official. This stance follows a deadline set by Donald Trump for the country to open the crucial waterway. Trump had threatened severe consequences if the deadline was not met, including the destruction of Iran’s power plants.
In response to a new proposal from Pakistani mediators to end hostilities, Iran is considering a two-tier plan for an immediate pause in the conflict. The first stage involves a ceasefire lasting over a month to halt missile and drone attacks, which would pave the way for the prompt reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Dubbed the “Islamabad Accords,” the second phase of the plan would give both nations 15-20 days to agree on sanction reliefs and nuclear agreements. However, Tehran doubts that Washington is prepared for a permanent ceasefire and remains firm that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary truce.
Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, emphasized that negotiations should not be based on ultimatums or threats of war crimes. He stated that Iran will assert its legitimate demands without compromising, demonstrating confidence in defending its positions. Baghaei announced that Iran’s response would be revealed in due course.
Initially set by Trump on March 26, the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was extended to 8pm ET on Tuesday, as indicated in a social media post by the president.
