On Tuesday, May 12, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a firm ultimatum to the United States, demanding the acceptance of Tehran’s 14-point peace proposal or the prospect of continued "failure."
Rejection of Iran's Counteroffer
This defiant message follows US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Iran’s latest counteroffer, which the U.S. president slammed as "TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!" stating that a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8 was on "life support."
Ghalibaf's Warning
Ghalibaf asserted that Washington must acknowledge the "rights" of the Iranian people to resolve the more than two months of conflict. In a post on X, he warned: "There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another." He added that "The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it."
Deadlocked Peace Talks
While peace talks remain deadlocked after failing to produce a breakthrough last month, Tehran remains firm in its refusal to back down. Military officials have warned they are prepared to respond to any renewed U.S. attack.
Critical Issues in Dispute
The ongoing friction centers on several critical issues that have rattled global markets and restricted traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry stated that its response called for "an end to the war in the region," ending the U.S. naval blockade, and the "release of assets belonging to the Iranian people, which have for years been unjustly trapped in foreign banks."
Uranium Enrichment Hurdle
A significant hurdle remains Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%. While the U.S. insists this material be transferred out of the country, Tehran maintains its right to domestic enrichment for peaceful purposes, though it has said the level of enrichment remains "negotiable."
Weapons-Grade Enrichment Threat
Adding to the tension, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for Iran’s parliamentary national security commission, suggested on Tuesday that lawmakers might consider enriching uranium to weapons-grade levels if conflict resumed. "One of Iran’s options in the event of another attack could be 90 percent enrichment. We will examine it in parliament," Rezaei wrote in a post on X.
Concerns Over Enriched Uranium Stockpile
Although U.S. and Israeli strikes earlier this year targeted Iranian interests, the status of Tehran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile remains a primary concern for international intelligence. Iran insists that it is "very concerned about environmental harm" in the Gulf, which it blames on the U.S. presence, while dismissively labeling claims regarding oil slicks off Kharg Island as "entirely fabricated."
