Iran Dismisses US Peace Plan, Citing Pre-Negotiation Violations
Iran on Thursday firmly rejected a peace proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump, asserting that the United States had already breached three critical clauses of the plan even before formal negotiations could commence. In a strongly worded statement, Iranian officials labeled the proposed ceasefire as "unreasonable," attributing this stance to a "deep historical distrust" towards America, rooted in what they described as repeated failures to honor commitments.
Statement from Iranian Parliament Speaker
The Iranian Parliament Speaker, MB Ghalibaf, shared a detailed statement outlining the grievances. "The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments, a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again," the statement declared. It further noted that while President Trump had acknowledged Iran's 10-Point Proposal as a "workable basis on which to negotiate," three specific clauses had been violated prior to the initiation of talks.
Detailed List of Alleged Violations
The statement enumerated the three violations as follows:
- Non-compliance with the ceasefire in Lebanon: The first clause of the 10-Point Proposal mandated an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and other regions. Iran accused the US of failing to uphold this, referencing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's explicit call for such a ceasefire.
- Entry of an intruding drone into Iranian airspace: An unauthorized drone was reportedly destroyed in the city of Lar in Fars Province, which Iran claims directly violates the clause prohibiting further airspace infringements.
- Denial of Iran's right to enrichment: The sixth clause of the framework included Iran's right to uranium enrichment, a point that the US has refused to acknowledge, according to Iranian officials.
"Now, the very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began. In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable," the statement concluded.
Background and Context
Earlier, the chief of Iran's nuclear agency, Mohammad Eslami, emphasized that protecting Tehran's right to enrich uranium was "necessary" for any ceasefire discussions. He pointed out that this aspect, though often overlooked, is integral to Iran's 10-point plan for a permanent ceasefire. The United States and Iran are scheduled to hold talks in Islamabad later this weekend, amidst these escalating tensions.
Both nations had previously declared success following the initial ceasefire agreement. However, reports indicate that additional drones and missiles struck Iran and Gulf Arab states even after the deal was announced, further complicating the diplomatic landscape.
Regional Escalations
Meanwhile, Israel intensified its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting commercial and residential areas in Beirut. This escalation resulted in at least 182 fatalities, marking the deadliest day of fighting, with emergency teams working overnight to rescue individuals trapped under rubble.
