Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal on Monday, transmitted through Pakistan, while Israel confirmed strikes on Iranian petrochemical facilities and a nuclear plant. The rejection underscores Tehran's demand for a lasting end to hostilities and security guarantees, according to Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour. These events unfolded amid widespread regional attacks, including an Iranian missile strike in Haifa and Israeli actions in Lebanon.
Iran's state media reported the country's rejection of a recent ceasefire proposal on Monday. Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Cairo, stated Iran would only accept a war's end with guarantees against future attacks. Tehran conveyed its response to Pakistan, a mediating nation, the official IRNA news agency reported. Iran's counter-proposal included ten points, among them an end to regional conflicts, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions removal, and reconstruction. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed two strikes hit Iranian petrochemical sites. He described an attack on the South Pars gas field plant at Asaluyeh as a powerful strike. Katz asserted this facility handles approximately 50% of Iran's petrochemical output. Local Iranian officials reported a similar strike on the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone, killing five people. Katz stated both facilities, responsible for about 85% of Iran's petrochemical exports, were no longer operational. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed US-Israeli air strikes near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. One impact occurred 75 meters from the plant's perimeter. Iranian state media reported Saturday's attack near the plant killed a security staff member and damaged an ancillary building. Iranian state media also reported the killing of Majid Khademi, an intelligence chief for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in an Israeli airstrike on Monday. Israel Katz confirmed Israel targeted Khademi, stating Israel eliminates terrorist leaders. An Iranian missile strike hit a seven-story apartment building in Haifa, Israel, on Sunday. Rescue services recovered four bodies on Monday, adding to two found Sunday. Kuwait's Health Ministry reported six injuries from falling projectiles in a residential area on Monday. The United Arab Emirates also reported one injury from drone fragments. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported gas outages in parts of Tehran after a strike on Sharif University's gas station. Iranian media reported an airstrike near Tehran killed at least 13 people in a residential building. Lebanese state media reported an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, an area considered a Hezbollah stronghold. Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, Iran's diplomatic mission head in Cairo, told The Associated Press that Iran would not accept a mere ceasefire. He stated Iran requires a war's conclusion with assurances against further aggression. Israel Katz, Israel's Defense Minister, claimed the strikes on Iranian petrochemical sites delivered a "severe economic blow" to Iran. He also stated Israel would continue to target Iranian leaders. Mohammad Eslami, chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, criticized the IAEA for its perceived inaction. In a letter to IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, Eslami warned that such attacks risked radioactive material release. He described the attacks as a clear breach of international law, stating expressions of concern were insufficient. European Council President Antonio Costa stated on Monday that "any targeting of civilian infrastructure, namely energy facilities, is illegal and unacceptable." He posted on X that escalation would not achieve peace. Costa added that only negotiations, particularly regional efforts, would bring peace. The South Pars gas field represents the world's largest known natural gas reserve. It supplies approximately 70% of Iran's total gas. The Bushehr facility, Iran's only nuclear power plant, has generated electricity since 2011. Russian state-owned nuclear company Rosatom is constructing a second reactor at the site. The plant is located on the Persian Gulf, across from Kuwait. US President Donald Trump previously threatened to seize Kharg Island, near Bushehr. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway, has seen disruptions since late February. South Korea's economy relies heavily on crude oil imports, with two-thirds transiting the Strait. Seoul released part of its strategic oil reserve in mid-March. Ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-geol stated South Korean authorities are working with Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Algeria for alternative routes. This could involve special envoys and deploying South Korean-flagged oil tankers to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. Several senior Iranian security officials have died since the conflict began, including Ali Larijani and Mohammad Pakpour. Analysts note Iran's decentralized command structure allows continued attack coordination. US President Donald Trump issued a Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Failure to comply could result in attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure. Regional mediators continue efforts to foster a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. South Korea's Industry Ministry plans the deployment of oil tankers to secure alternative crude oil supplies. The ongoing diplomatic and military actions suggest continued regional tensions.
