‘Negotiating with themselves’: Iran mockingly rejects Trump’s 15-point peace proposal

Tehran: An Iranian military spokesperson on Wednesday dismissed U.S. attempts to broker a ceasefire, mockingly suggesting that the Trump administration was merely "negotiating with themselves."

In a prerecorded video broadcast on state television, Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, characterised recent American diplomatic efforts as a façade for military failure.

“The strategic power you used to talk about has turned into a strategic failure,” Zolfaghari said. “The one claiming to be a global superpower would have already gotten out of this mess if it could. Don’t dress up your defeat as an agreement. Your era of empty promises has come to an end.”

Rejection of the 15-Point Plan

The remarks follow the White House’s submission of a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Tehran via Pakistani intermediaries on Tuesday. Zolfaghari questioned the internal stability of the U.S. government, asking, “Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?”

He reiterated that Iran remains unwilling to compromise on its core positions. “Don’t call your failure an agreement,” he added. “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. Not now, not ever.”

A Heightened Standoff

The rejection comes at a time of extreme tension, as the U.S. prepares to deploy an additional 1,000 troops to the Middle East to supplement the 50,000 already in the region. Despite the military buildup, President Donald Trump has publicly claimed that Iran is eager to reach a deal because its military infrastructure has been decimated.

This also comes amid Iran's release of footage on Wednesday of the 80th wave of "Operation True Promise 4," launching a fresh volley of missiles at U.S. and Israeli positions.

With inputs from AP