Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that Tehran is reviewing a 15-point U.S. peace proposal to end the ongoing war, but stressed that an exchange of messages through intermediaries does not constitute direct negotiations with Washington. The Associated Press confirmed Iran has received the American plan, which President Donald Trump described Tuesday as part of active negotiations — a characterization Iran has flatly disputed.

Iranian state media outlets offered competing signals about Tehran's posture. State broadcaster Press TV, citing a senior political-security official, reported that Iran would reject the U.S. ceasefire offer and has put forward a five-point counteroffer of its own. Iran's counteroffer reportedly includes demands for control over the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical oil shipping chokepoint, as well as war-related reparations. A source cited by the Fars News Agency said Iran does not accept a ceasefire, arguing it is not logical to engage in such a process with parties it accuses of violating agreements.

The Strait of Hormuz demand appears likely to face significant resistance from Washington. Trump himself raised the idea Monday of joint control over the strait — shared between the United States and Iran's supreme leader — though no formal agreement on that point has been reported. The waterway is a vital artery for global oil shipments, and any arrangement granting Iran unilateral control would carry major economic and geopolitical implications.

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran began on Feb. 28 with coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes against the Islamic Republic. Pakistan has separately offered to facilitate talks between the two sides, according to the topic context, adding another potential diplomatic channel to an already complex picture. The gap between the two countries' stated positions — particularly on ceasefire terms, the Hormuz question, and whether any talks are even occurring — underscores the significant obstacles to a negotiated resolution.