Iran Offers Ceasefire with US and Israel in Exchange for Security Guarantees

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Tuesday that his country is prepared to end the ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States, but only if it receives firm guarantees against future aggression. The announcement came during a phone call with European Council President António Costa.

"We possess the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that core demands are met, specifically guarantees preventing the repetition of aggression," President Pezeshkian was quoted as saying. He emphasized that normalizing the situation requires a halt to the American-Israeli offensive.

In response, European Council President António Costa described the current Middle East situation as "extremely dangerous" in a social media post following their conversation. He called on Iran to cease what he termed "unacceptable attacks" on regional countries and to engage positively in diplomatic efforts, particularly with the United Nations, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian leader's comments coincided with a stark assessment from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who declared that the coming days in the war would be "decisive." He did not rule out the involvement of U.S. Ground forces in the conflict.

"The coming days will be decisive. Iran knows this, and militarily they can do practically nothing about it," Secretary Hegseth stated. Despite over a month of continued military campaign against Iran, he indicated that ceasefire negotiations are progressing actively and gaining strength.

This aligns with a White House statement from Monday suggesting successful progress in talks, while noting a significant disparity between Iran's public rhetoric and its private communications with American officials.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration on Tuesday with allies who have not assisted in efforts to secure the Iranian-controlled Strait of Hormuz. He suggested that countries unhappy with high fuel prices should "go and get their own oil." His remarks came as U.S. Gasoline prices surpassed an average of $4 per gallon for the first time since 2022, amid a global trend of rising fuel costs.