Iran FM: US ceasefire proposals 'unrealistic, illogical, excessive' — contradicts Trump's deal claim

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at his March 30 press conference that US ceasefire proposals were 'unrealistic, illogical and excessive.' The US had presented Iran with a 15-point ceasefire plan via Pakistan (acting as mediator), including reopening the Strait of Hormuz and curbs on Iran's nuclear programme. Tehran rejected the proposals outright and submitted counter-proposals. Iran's reported counter-demands include: 1. Israel must stop attacking Iranian allies in the region (i.e., Hezbollah, PMF, Houthis) — a condition Israel is highly unlikely to accept. 2. Reparations for war damage inflicted on Iran by US-Israeli strikes. 3. Removal of American military bases from the Middle East. Iran also asserted that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire deal — making a general ceasefire conditional on an end to the 2026 Lebanon war against Hezbollah. Iran has denied that direct talks with the US have occurred, while the US says indirect talks are ongoing through intermediaries. The gap between US and Iranian positions remains very large: the US seeks Hormuz reopening and nuclear constraints; Iran demands a halt to all Israeli operations, reparations, and US base withdrawal.