Kamal Ghorui
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Sunday said the United States faces a choice between an “impossible” military operation or a “bad deal” with Tehran, mocking Washington’s narrowed options amid a prolonged diplomatic deadlock and rising tensions between the two countries.In a statement carried by state television, the Guards’ intelligence organisation said US President Donald Trump “must choose between ‘an impossible operation or a bad deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran’,” adding that “the room for US decision-making has narrowed”.The comments came as diplomatic efforts between the two sides have stalled after only one round of direct peace talks. Iranian officials have said Tehran submitted a 14-point proposal to mediator Pakistan.Iranian media outlets Tasnim and Fars reported that the proposal includes a 30-day framework to resolve outstanding issues and focuses on ending hostilities rather than extending the ceasefire. The reported agenda includes the withdrawal of US forces from Iran’s periphery, lifting of a naval blockade, unfreezing Iranian assets, easing sanctions, and a mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz.US outlet Axios, citing sources, reported the proposal also set a one-month deadline for negotiations covering reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the wider conflict, including in Lebanon.Trump, posting on Truth Social, said he would review Iran’s plan but added he “can’t imagine that it would be acceptable” and said Iran had not “paid a big enough price” for past actions.He also said in remarks to reporters in Florida that US action was “a possibility” if Iran “misbehave[s]”.Separately, Iranian officials said the country was prepared for both diplomatic engagement and continued confrontation as tensions persist across the region.The ceasefire between the United States and Iran has remained in place since April 8, although negotiations have stalled following failed peace talks held in Islamabad, Pakistan. The weeks-long conflict, which began after US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28, has seen diplomatic progress slow, with only one round of direct negotiations taking place so far.
