The conflict between Israel and the United States against Iran has reached its 26th day. The focus remains on the possibility of negotiations to achieve a ceasefire or even the end of the war. However, this Wednesday (25) was another day on which public speeches on the topic diverged.
Iran denied in every possible way that it was willing to accept a deal. Initially, sources stated that the country had signaled diplomatic openness and there was talk of a round of negotiations in Pakistan this weekend.
Subsequently, Iranian authorities said they had reviewed the U.S. proposals and found them excessive. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the Persian country has no intention of maintaining talks to end the conflict.
A source heard by the state-run Iranian broadcaster in English, Press TV, said that Iran rejected the American proposal and added: “The war will end when Iran decides that it will end, and not when Trump decides that it will end.”
Amid the Iranian denials, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, threatened to strike the country with greater force if Tehran does not accept that “it has been militarily defeated.”
There was also rejection of a deal on another front of the war. Hezbollah, the extremist group operating in Lebanon, denied negotiations with Israel. The group’s leader, Naim Qassem, said in a televised speech, read on his behalf, that negotiating with Israel under fire amounts to an “imposed surrender” and called for unity against Israel.
Attacks
While information about possible negotiations diverges, attacks continue from all sides. Iran was attacked by the United States, while it launched a new wave of offensives against Israel and U.S. bases in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia said they had repelled new drone attacks, without specifying their origin.
The United States also sent two thousand paratroopers to the Middle East, under the justification of it being an “additional military strategy.” The move is seen by some analysts as an indication that the war is not near its end.
A member of the Iranian Parliament said the country is monitoring the movement of American troops.
Numbers
- According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, since the start of the bombardments 1,094 people have died in the country; of these, 22 died this Wednesday. Among the dead, 121 were children.
- Also according to the agency, 3,119 people were injured, with 153 just this Wednesday. Among the injured, 395 are children.
- In Israel, the Ministry of Health counts 5,165 people injured since the start of the conflict, of whom 106 are still undergoing treatment.
UN
At the United Nations, Iran’s envoy in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, stated that Israel is the main source of instability in the Middle East.
And the Secretary-General of the organization, António Guterres, said that the war has been “far too long.” For him, the conflict “has crossed limits that even leaders thought unimaginable.” Guterres specifically urged the United States and Israel to end the fighting. And he added: “My message to Iran is to stop attacking its neighbors.”
