Irans President Proposes Terms for Potential Ceasefire with Opponents

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has outlined terms for ending the conflict with the United States and Israel, which include recognition of Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and international guarantees against future aggression. In a social media post on Wednesday, Pezeshkian stated that he had spoken to his counterparts in Russia and Pakistan and confirmed Iran’s commitment to peace.

Pezeshkian’s statement comes as pressure mounts on the US to halt its military operations in the region. Analysts say that speculation from Washington about Iran’s willingness to submit quickly after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was misguided. Instead, Tehran is likely to determine the end of the conflict due to its ability to inflict economic pain broadly.

Iran has launched heavy retaliatory strikes against US assets and critical infrastructure in Gulf countries, disrupting global supplies. The country has also adopted asymmetric tactics, such as disrupting the Strait of Hormuz and threatening US banking-linked entities, to inflict economic pain on the region and wider world.

The conflict has had a significant impact on the global energy market, with oil prices rising above $100 per barrel. Iran’s military has warned that it has the capabilities to wage a long war that could “destroy” the world economy. The International Energy Agency has agreed to release 400 million barrels from emergency reserves, but it is unclear what impact this will have.

Tehran has also been accused of directly attacking oil facilities in neighboring countries, including Iraq and Oman. Iran’s elite army unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), continues to show its military capabilities. The Iranian leadership has provided conflicting messaging on the conflict, with some officials denying involvement in attacks on oil facilities in other countries.

The terms outlined by Pezeshkian are a rare posture from Tehran, which has maintained a defiant stance and rejected any possibility of negotiations or a ceasefire when the war broke out nearly two weeks ago.

Source: Al Jazeera