Iran will not be subjugated by deadlines in defending its country
At one of the world's most consequential maritime crossroads, Iran and Oman have opened quiet diplomatic channels to negotiate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, even as President Trump's military ultimatum and Tehran's demand for ironclad guarantees pull the situation toward confrontation. The Strait — a narrow corridor through which a significant share of global energy flows — has become the symbolic and strategic hinge of a broader conflict between Washington and Tehran. History reminds us that the most dangerous moments are often those when deadlines and diplomacy arrive at the same door.
- Trump has threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens by Tuesday night, injecting a hard military deadline into an already volatile standoff.
- Iran refuses to be moved by coercion, with its foreign ministry spokesman declaring Tehran will not be 'subjugated' by ultimatums — a posture that hardens rather than softens the impasse.
- A 45-day ceasefire draft is circulating among mediators and has reached both governments, but the White House has not endorsed it and confirms that 'Operation Epic Fury' remains active.
- Iran has flatly rejected the U.S. 15-point peace plan as 'extremely ambitious, unusual and illogical,' while insisting any ceasefire must come with 'suitable guarantees' — terms Washington has not agreed to.
- Iran and Oman are holding deputy-level talks in a narrow but meaningful diplomatic opening, with Muscat serving as a neutral channel between two parties who are not yet speaking the same language.
Iran and Oman have begun deputy-level negotiations aimed at establishing safe vessel passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's foreign ministry confirmed Monday. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei indicated the talks would continue until some form of agreement is reached — a measured signal of diplomatic intent amid a rapidly escalating crisis.
The pressure bearing down on those talks is considerable. President Trump has threatened military strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges unless the Strait reopens by Tuesday night. Baqaei pushed back firmly, saying Iran would not be 'subjugated' by such deadlines, framing the ultimatum as coercion rather than diplomacy. The Strait's role as a chokepoint for global energy supplies makes the standoff far larger than a bilateral dispute.
A draft 45-day ceasefire proposal has been circulating among mediators and delivered to both governments, calling for the Strait's reopening as a precondition for broader peace talks. But a White House official told ABC News the proposal is merely one of many ideas under review, and that military operations under 'Operation Epic Fury' are ongoing — a reminder that diplomacy and force are running in parallel.
Iran's conditions for any ceasefire are firm. A Pakistani security official told ABC News that Tehran will not accept a pause in fighting without 'suitable guarantees,' signaling demands that go well beyond a simple cessation of hostilities. Iran has also rejected the U.S. 15-point peace plan outright, with Baqaei calling it 'extremely ambitious, unusual and illogical' and noting that Tehran has prepared its own set of demands entirely independent of Washington's framework.
The Oman channel offers a sliver of possibility, but the broader landscape remains fractured — two parties advancing incompatible proposals, a deadline creating artificial urgency, and a conflict that has yet to find even the outline of common ground.
Iran and Oman have begun talks aimed at establishing procedures that would allow ships to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, according to statements from Iran's foreign ministry on Monday. The negotiations are being conducted at the deputy foreign minister level, and Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei indicated the discussions would continue until reaching some form of agreement. The timing is significant: these diplomatic overtures are unfolding against a backdrop of escalating military pressure and competing proposals for ending the broader conflict between the United States and Iran.
President Trump has issued an ultimatum with teeth. He threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges unless the regime reopens the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday night—a deadline that carries the weight of imminent military action. Baqaei responded by asserting that Iran will not be "subjugated" by such deadlines in defending its country, signaling that Tehran views the threat as coercive rather than persuasive. The Strait itself is one of the world's most critical chokepoints for global energy supplies, making control over its passage a matter of both strategic and economic consequence.
Meanwhile, a draft proposal has circulated among mediators calling for a 45-day ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait to enable subsequent peace negotiations. The Associated Press reported that both the U.S. and Iran have received this proposal, though a White House official told ABC News on Monday that it remains one of many ideas under consideration and that President Trump has not yet endorsed it. The official added that "Operation Epic Fury continues," suggesting military operations remain active even as diplomatic channels are being explored.
Iran's position on any ceasefire is conditional. A Pakistani security official told ABC News that Tehran will not accept a pause in fighting without what it calls "suitable guarantees"—a phrase that hints at deeper demands beyond a simple cessation of hostilities. The official stated plainly that any ceasefire process lacking such assurances would be unacceptable to Iran, underscoring that Tehran views the current negotiations as an opportunity to secure commitments, not merely to buy time.
The U.S. has also put forward a 15-point peace plan, which Iran has flatly rejected. Baqaei characterized the proposal as "extremely ambitious, unusual and illogical," dismissing it entirely during a weekly press briefing. He noted that Iran had prepared its own set of demands based on its own interests and considerations, independent of what the United States has proposed. This suggests two parties talking past each other: Washington offering a framework Iran finds unacceptable, and Tehran insisting on guarantees Washington may not be willing to provide.
The Oman talks represent a potential diplomatic opening, with a neutral mediator attempting to establish ground rules for maritime passage. Yet the broader negotiation landscape remains fractured. Trump's deadline creates artificial urgency, Iran's demand for guarantees suggests it will not move quickly, and the competing proposals indicate neither side has found common ground on what a settlement should actually look like. The coming days will test whether the Strait of Hormuz can become a point of agreement or whether it remains a flashpoint in a conflict that shows few signs of resolution.
Citações Notáveis
A few days ago, they put forward proposals through intermediaries, and the 15-point U.S. plan was reflected through Pakistan and some other friendly countries. Right then we stated that such proposals are both extremely ambitious, unusual and illogical and not acceptable to us in any way.— Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei
Any process for a ceasefire without suitable guarantees and assurances would be unacceptable to Iran.— Pakistani security official
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why is Iran negotiating with Oman specifically about the Strait rather than directly with the U.S.?
Oman is a neutral party with relationships on both sides. Direct talks between Washington and Tehran have broken down or never really begun. Using a mediator lets both sides explore possibilities without appearing to capitulate.
What does Iran mean by "suitable guarantees"?
That's the real question. It likely means commitments that Iran's nuclear program won't be targeted, that sanctions will be lifted, that the U.S. won't use the Strait's reopening as a pretext for further military action. Without knowing what Tehran actually wants, it's hard to know if any deal is possible.
Trump's deadline is Tuesday night. Is that real?
It's real as a threat. Whether he follows through depends on whether Iran moves. But Iran has shown it won't be rushed. Baqaei's comment about not being "subjugated" by deadlines suggests Tehran sees the threat as pressure, not persuasion.
So why would Iran even talk to Oman if it's rejecting the U.S. proposal?
Because talking costs nothing, and it keeps a door open. If the U.S. strikes, Iran can say it was negotiating in good faith. If somehow a deal emerges, Iran gets what it wanted. It's positioning.
What happens if Trump follows through on the threat?
The Strait could be closed entirely, oil prices spike, and the conflict escalates beyond the current military operations. That's why even the threat matters—it's forcing everyone to move, even if they're moving in different directions.
Is there any chance this actually ends in a ceasefire?
Only if both sides decide the cost of continuing is higher than the cost of stopping. Right now, neither seems convinced of that. The talks are real, but so is the skepticism on both sides.