Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has rejected a US ceasefire proposal sent to Tehran through mediators. Rejecting the proposal, he claimed that Israel and the United States must first "give up."
On Tuesday, a senior Iranian official reported on the US ceasefire proposal, British news agency Reuters reported.
The Iranian official said Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei held the first foreign policy meeting since his appointment as supreme leader. There he took a "very tough and inflexible" stance on retaliating against the US and Israel. The official did not clarify whether the supreme leader was physically or virtually present in the meeting.
The senior official, who did not want to be named, said that the two mediating countries had submitted a proposal to Iran's foreign ministry to reduce tensions with the United States or cease war. However, he did not give the details of the proposal or the name of the mediating countries.
Responding to the ceasefire proposal, Iran's supreme leader said, "Until the US and Israel capitulate, accept defeat and pay reparations, it is not the right time for peace."
The Supreme Leader's decision is final in all matters of state in the Islamic Republic of Iran. No new photos of Iran's supreme leader have been released since he succeeded his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a week ago.
Iranian officials said the new supreme leader was also slightly wounded in the attack aimed at killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, US officials said he suffered serious injuries.
US and Israel's war with Iran has entered its third week. At least 2,000 people have been killed in the war so far and the conflict shows no sign of abating.Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is virtually closed. U.S. President Donald Trump's pleas for help to reopen the vital waterway have been rejected by his allies. This has led to an increase in fuel prices and fears of inflation.
In his first message on state television since being elected supreme leader last week, Mojtaba Khamenei said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed as a tool to pressure Iran's enemies. Three sources told Reuters on March 14,The Trump administration has rejected a proposal by Middle Eastern allies for diplomatic talks aimed at ending the Iran war.
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