Iranian military mocks Trump’s claim of talks for a deal
A Palestinian man climbs on the remains of a ballistic missile that landed in the West Bank village of Haris, near Salfit.
Photo: EPA An Iranian military spokesperson mocked US attempts at a ceasefire deal on Wednesday, raising questions about whether a 15-point plan proposed by Washington has a chance to succeed.
The comments from Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Iranian military’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which jointly commands Iran’s regular military and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came after the plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries.
US President Donald Trump has said that American officials are negotiating with Iran on the plan, but Zolfaghari, in a recorded video statement that aired on state television, suggested there were no talks. “Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” he said. “Our first and last word has been the same from day one, and it will stay that way: Someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you,” Zolfaghari said. “Not now, not ever.” The 15-point plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.
The New York Times was the first to report that the plan had been delivered to Iranian officials.
The Pentagon was also in the process of deploying two Marine units that will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region.
The moves are being framed as Trump manoeuvring to give himself “max flexibility” on what he will do next, the person added.
Israeli officials, who have been advocating for Trump to continue the war against Iran, were surprised by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the person said.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, air strikes battered the Islamic Republic while Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and sites across the region.
With oil prices rising and consumers feeling the pain at the pump, Trump has been under increasing pressure at home to bring the war to an end.
Tehran’s chokehold on the crucial Strait of Hormuz has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing and threatened the world economy. “The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure,” said Zolfaghari, the Iranian military spok
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