What to know about the US, Iran proposals to end war

The Trump administration has reportedly floated a 15-point plan to Iran to end war there.

It was met with a flat-out rejection from Tehran, with Iranian leaders opting to instead issue its own plan, as the war nears the one-month mark.

The U.S.’s 15-point plan to end the war was sent to Iran on Tuesday, and President Trump said during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office that the U.S. was in negotiations “right now” with Iran led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and that included Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law.

“I can tell you they’d like to make a deal,” he said Tuesday.

But Tehran publicly, in turn, firmly rejected the proposal Wednesday. Instead, it asked for a complete end to aggression, war reparations, a region-wide ceasefire, and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, according to a document shared on social platform X by the Iranian Embassy in India.

The New York Times reported the U.S. plan, for its part, addressed Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear program and potential sanctions relief, along with how to move forward with the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that sees the flow of roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day but has been severely restricted since the U.S.-Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28.

The proposals show the two sides at the furthest spectrums of reaching a deal, with Iran holding firm that it has the right to defend itself.

Iran considers the U.S. ceasefire proposal to be “a deception aimed at escalating tensions,” according to the document shared by the embassy.

“Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met,” Iranian state television English-language broadcaster, Press TV, quoted an anonymous official saying Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

The White House, meanwhile, said Wednesday that the U.S. is “very close to meeting the core objectives of Operation Epic Fury,” and maintained the mission is “ahead of schedule” but gave few details on why or how that determination was made.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a press briefing that the Iranian regime is “looking for an exit ramp” out of the war.

Leavitt said the U.S. and Iran have been in “productive conversations” which led to the postponing of strikes on Iran’s power plants and other energy infrastructure.

“The president’s preference is always peace,” she said. “There does not need to be anymore death and destruction.”

When asked about Iran rejecting the U.S.’s ceasefire proposal, the press secretary said she wouldn’t “negotiate on behalf of the president here at the podium” but said the talks are “ongoing.”

Iran continued its attacks against Israel and Persian Gulf Arab countries while the U.S. and Israel continue to pound several sites across the Islamic Republic. Several countries have popped up as mediators including Pakistan to push for in-person talks between Iran and the U.S. but so far such talks do not appear to be coming to fruition.

“Pakistan welcomes and fully supports ongoing efforts to pursue dialogue to end the WAR in Middle East, in the interest of peace and stability in region and beyond,“ Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X. “Subject to concurrence by the US and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to be the host to facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict.”

The proposals by both sides that emerged since Tuesday evening have little chance of being adopted by the other side without major adjustments.

The U.S. is unlikely to agree to some of the major points of Iran’s proposal, especially the point of complete control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Some 2,000 U.S. troops from the 82nd Airborne Division are set to be sent to the Middle East in the coming days.

Iran has also rejected what Trump has said about the “very good and productive” ongoing negotiations with Iran.

“No negotiations have been held with the US, and fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets and escape the quagmire in which the US and Israel are trapped,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, wrote Monday on X.

The president had a shinier outlook of the U.S.’s handling of the war, saying Tuesday, “This war has been won.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alongside Trump, however, contended the countries would continue to “loitering” over Tehran.

Updated 2:07 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More Administration News

Hegseth: Military chaplains will no longer display rank

Senate GOP-backed deal to end DHS shutdown draws extensive fire

Here are Iran’s 5 conditions for ending war after rejecting US ceasefire plan

Murphy on ‘$1.5 BILLION’ stock trade before Trump Iran ...

Jeffries warns Republicans on redistricting after Democrat flips Mar-a-Lago seat

Cruz asks Senate to hold his salary during DHS shutdown

Trump makes public call for clean 18-month 702 extension

Judge refuses to drop lawsuit over Musk role as Trump adviser

Live updates: Leavitt won’t confirm upcoming Iran talks; DHS funding has ...

The SAVE America Act is bad news for Republicans

Smith memo: Trump had classified docs shared with just 6 people, others tied to ...

Supreme Court rules for Cox in Sony copyright fight over music downloads

Navarro: Supreme Court ruling on tariffs ‘best possible outcome’ for ...

US issues ‘worldwide caution’ alert to travelers

AFGE president tells lawmakers ‘do not get on a plane’ for Easter recess ...

Iran dismisses US ceasefire proposal: State news agency

Florida extends Democratic winning streak: 5 takeaways

Senate Democrats reject GOP offer to reopen DHS, partially fund ICE

© The Hill