“We do not choose between empires -we choose dignity, sovereignty, and freedom.” (Soekarno was the leader of the Indonesian struggle for independence)

As of March 25-26, 2026, Iran has rejected U.S. proposals to end the conflict, instead outlining five key conditions, as reported by Iranian state media and Iranian Embassy in South Africa. These conditions, aimed at halting the current hostilities, include:

A complete stop to U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran and its allies.

The establishment of concrete mechanisms to prevent the re-imposition of war.

Guaranteed and clear payment for war damages and compensation.

An end to fighting across all fronts involving Iran and its regional “resistance” allies.

Recognition of Iranian sovereignty and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

These demands are seen as a counterproposal to what Iran labelled an “excessive” 15-point U.S. plan. Iranian officials stated they would not accept dictates from the U.S. and will continue resisting until their own conditions are met, citing that if they engaged in talks with the USA, it would tantamount to an admission of defeat.

Donald Trump finds himself in a nightmarish space. He is clearly under serious delusions (and lying through his teeth) when he states that had had “very good and productive conversations” with Iran, saying the sides had “major points of agreement”. He claimed to have paused strikes on Iranian power plants to allow these negotiations to proceed. A senior Iranian official mocked the claim, questioning if the U.S. was “negotiating with themselves”.

Iran has denied direct or indirect negotiations, its Foreign Ministry acknowledged receiving “messages” from friendly nations regarding U.S. willingness to talk, but denied these exchanges amounted to formal negotiations. Iran has accused the Trump administration of fabricating news about talks to control high energy prices in the US and to manage the economic impact of the war, which has seen the Strait of Hormuz closed, hurting global markets. These claims follow a period of intense military engagement, with the U.S. and Israel striking Iranian sites. Iran has reiterated that its position on the war and the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged. The situation shows a clear divergence in narratives, with the U.S. trying to project control and diplomacy, while Iran seeks to project strength and deny a retreat.

No Kings, no exceptions: How Trump’s Iran war exposes the death of American democracy

Despite US-Israeli air strikes on Feb 28, 2026, targeting senior leaders and nuclear facilities, Iran’s regime has displayed resilience. Iran has launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles targeting US military bases in Gulf states and in Israel. Iran has also warned that any further moves by the US or its backers will result in “relentless, unceasing attacks” on regional infrastructure. Analysts indicate Iran is shifting toward “strategic containment” and pragmatic endurance, retaining its ability to project power over critical energy chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Iran continues to evade sanctions with economic support from China, which buys the vast........

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