An Iranian military spokesperson has publicly ridiculed US efforts to broker a ceasefire, casting fresh doubt over Washington’s proposed 15-point peace plan.Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, speaking on state television on Wednesday, dismissed claims by Donald Trump that discussions were under way, suggesting instead that the US was “negotiating with itself.”“Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” he said in a recorded statement. “People like us can never get along with people like you. As we have always said… no one like us will make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever.”“The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure,” Zolfaghari said. “Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end.”Iran previously said it can not negotiate with the US as it has attacked the country twice during high level negotiations in the past two years. Four weeks into the war has left thousands dead, created the worst energy shock in history and sparked global inflation fears.The remarks come after a 15-point US proposal was conveyed to Tehran through intermediaries from Pakistan, which has also offered to host potential talks. While the plan has been described as a framework to de-escalate the conflict, Tehran’s response suggests little appetite for negotiations.Zolfaghari, who represents Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—the joint command overseeing both the regular military and the Revolutionary Guard — earlier mocked Trump in English and said, “Hey Trump, you’re fired! You’re familiar with that phrase. Thank you for your attention.”Even as diplomatic efforts falter, the US is ramping up its military posture in the region, with the Pentagon deploying two Marine units—adding roughly 5,000 troops and thousands of sailors—to maintain what officials describe as “maximum flexibility.”
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The move has reportedly caught Israel off guard, with its leadership said to favour continued military pressure over a ceasefire.Meanwhile, the conflict shows no signs of easing. Airstrikes continue to hit Iran, while Iranian missiles and drones target Israel and other sites across the region.Mounting economic pressure is also shaping the battlefield. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have rattled global energy markets, sending oil prices higher and intensifying calls within the US for a resolution.But Tehran’s message remains uncompromising.
