Trump Rejects Peace Plan and Threatens Harder Strikes on Iran

A joint military assault launched by Donald Trump and Israel on February 28, 2026, has escalated into a month-long conflict. While the U.S. and Israel achieved tactical air supremacy, Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones and closing the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade has disrupted the global economy by holding international shipping captive.

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have stalled. China and Pakistan proposed a five-point peace plan in Beijing calling for an immediate ceasefire and guaranteed safe passage through the strait. However, Trump rejected these signals, threatening to hit Iran extremely hard over the next few weeks to bring them back to the Stone Ages. He stated he would not consider a ceasefire until ships can safely cross the strait.

Conflicting claims have emerged regarding negotiations. Trump asserted on social media that Iran's president requested a ceasefire, but the Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the claim as false and baseless. U.S. intelligence assesses that Iran is currently unwilling to engage in substantial negotiations, believing it holds a strong position and distrusting Trump's commitment to diplomacy.

While Israel continues fierce strikes and Gulf states urge the military campaign to persist, China continues to position itself as a responsible global power by remaining detached from the combat. Meanwhile, exiled royal Reza Pahlavi is positioning himself as a central figure in Iran's political future, signaling a potential reset in relations between Tehran, China, and Russia.