The United States and Iran have received a framework aimed at ending ongoing hostilities, but early signs of disagreement have surfaced, particularly over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route.
According to a source familiar with the proposal, the plan outlines a two-tier approach involving an immediate ceasefire, followed by a comprehensive agreement to be finalised within 15 to 20 days. However, Iran has rejected reopening the Strait as part of any temporary truce.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Tehran would not reopen the waterway under a ceasefire arrangement and would not be pressured by external timelines. “Iran won’t reopen the Strait as part of a temporary ceasefire,” the official said, adding that “Iran won’t accept deadlines as it reviews the proposal,” while also asserting that “Washington lacks the readiness for a permanent ceasefire.”
Diplomatic engagements have intensified behind the scenes, with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reportedly in continuous contact “all night long” with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Earlier, Axios reported that the United States, Iran, and regional mediators were exploring a potential 45-day ceasefire as part of a phased deal that could eventually lead to a permanent resolution of the conflict.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran. In a strongly worded post on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned of intensified military action if Iran failed to agree to terms and reopen the Strait by a set deadline. He later specified the timeline, stating: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time! (Wednesday 0000 GMT).”
The conflict continues to escalate, with fresh aerial strikes reported across the region on Monday, more than five weeks after US and Israeli forces began sustained attacks on Iran. The war has killed thousands and disrupted global markets, particularly through rising oil prices.
In retaliation, Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes—and launched strikes targeting Israel, US military installations, and energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
Anwar Gargash, adviser to the UAE president, stressed the importance of safeguarding maritime access, saying any agreement must ensure passage through the Strait. He cautioned that failure to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its missile and drone programmes could result in “a more dangerous, more volatile Middle East.”
Recent Iranian strikes on petrochemical facilities and an Israeli-linked vessel in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates highlight Tehran’s continued military capabilities, despite repeated claims by Trump that such capacities had been neutralised.
Iranian state media also reported that Majid Khademi, head of the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence organisation, had been killed. Previous strikes by US and Israeli forces have reportedly eliminated several high-ranking Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has since been replaced by his son, Mojtaba.
In Israel, rescue teams recovered two bodies from the rubble of a residential building in Haifa struck by an Iranian missile on Sunday, according to local media.
The humanitarian toll continues to rise. US-based rights group HRANA reports that approximately 3,540 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began, including at least 244 children.
The violence has also spilled into neighbouring Lebanon, where Israeli forces have intensified operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, including strikes in Beirut—marking one of the most severe regional escalations linked to the broader US -Israeli campaign against Iran.
