Day 216 | Iran says it has received US counterproposal to 7-day ceasefire plan
Iranian officials and state media confirmed Wednesday that the government has received a US counterproposal responding to Tehran's recent framework for a seven-day ceasefire and the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian government is actively reviewing the counterproposal following indirect diplomatic exchanges mediated through regional third parties.
The developments follow Tehran's earlier proposal, which made a temporary cessation of hostilities contingent on specific diplomatic conditions.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic momentum, hardline statements from Iran's military highlight persistent divides.
A spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) asserted Tuesday that the seven-month war with Washington will only end if the United States admits defeat and removes its forces from the Middle East.
Simultaneously, the Iranian military released a "letter to the American people" calling on US citizens to organize street protests against President Donald Trump.
The document accused the Trump administration of leveraging allegations surrounding Iran's nuclear program as a ruse to "plunder Iran's wealth" and prolong regional instability.
Rubio ordered Iranian delegation to leave US: Axios
- Expulsions followed the breakdown of Qatari-led diplomatic talks, with neither side willing to grant concessions.
- Araghchi and his team departed New York on an overnight flight to Doha following notification from the US UN mission.
- US President Donald Trump warned of imminent action, telling reporters the US will either "blow 'em up or make a deal."
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded on Monday that Iran's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly immediately leave the United States following a breakdown in diplomatic negotiations, Axios reported.
The command applied directly to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his diplomatic team in New York.
According to a US official cited by Axios, the directive came after diplomatic efforts stalled, serving as a rare and severe diplomatic rebuke that laid bare the deep distrust between both nations amid efforts to end the conflict.
"Secretary Rubio kicked out the Iranian delegation who had overstayed their welcome. The UN General Assembly was over, so it was time for them to go," a US official told Axios.
Optimism gives way to stalemate
The diplomatic expulsion followed hours of shifting expectations in Washington.
On Monday morning, the White House was hopeful that progress could be reached in discussions with Tehran later in the day, Axios reported.
However, by late afternoon, it became clear that negotiations had reached an impasse.
Qatari mediators have been attempting to broker a diplomatic breakthrough between the US and Iran using a compromise proposal, but made little progress as neither side was willing to budge.
On Monday evening, acting on Rubio's orders, the US mission to the UN formally notified the Iranian mission that Araghchi's delegation had to leave New York immediately, Axios reported.
The Iranian delegation left for the airport several hours later and boarded a flight bound for Doha at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.
A second source confirmed to Axios that the US demanded the delegation's immediate departure, while noting that Araghchi was already scheduled to fly back to Tehran on Monday night.
Trump warns of imminent decision
Despite the departure of the Iranian delegation, regional sources told Axios that Qatari mediators are continuing to engage both sides regarding their compromise proposal.
Addressing the situation on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump delivered sharp remarks when asked by reporters how he intends to reach an agreement with a regime he described as crazy.
"Maybe I will blow 'em up," US President Trump told reporters, according to Axios. "Maybe I blow 'em up. We have to make that decision. We will blow 'em up or make a deal. But the time is coming. It's gonna end very soon one way or the other."
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Read more: Day 215 | Trump rejects claims of offering Iran sanctions relief
