Donald Trump has accepted as a “basis” for negotiation 10 common points communicated by the Iranian party through Pakistan with the indirect mediation of China.
In a statement on Truth Social, the President of the United States announced that he had “retained” the devastating forces he had promised to deploy against Iran and that the regime had accepted a two-week ceasefire during which both parties would work to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Tehran is still studying the 15-point American proposal, which includes commitments such as Iran not acquiring nuclear weapons, handing over its highly enriched uranium stocks, limiting its ballistic capabilities, ending its support for allied groups in the region, and opening the Strait of Hormuz.
In the region, the news is met with relief and caution. While Benjamin Netanyahu officially supported the ceasefire, Israel specified that it did not apply to its actions in Lebanon against Hezbollah. In the Gulf, this decision was welcomed, but the Gulf Cooperation Council member countries have adopted a restrained position.
The list we are translating below is the one released by the Iranian news agency Fars News Agency. Following Trump’s announcement mentioning the 10-point plan, the Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed that these points were the condition for the ceasefire and the basis for any negotiation. These ten points, along with communications from the Iranian party and initial ceasefire implementation elements — including the agreement that Iran and Oman would levy a tax on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz — raise serious doubts about its viability. These demands align with the maximalist aspirations of the Islamic Republic and, if implemented, would be a massive strategic victory for Iran.
Comparing the Iranian demands with the pre-war situation, accepting 80% of these demands would put Tehran in a better geopolitical position than before February 28, 2026.
For comparison, the points of the Pakistani-Chinese mediation for an “expanded” ceasefire are almost absent from Tehran’s demands, which, for its own ceasefire plan, do not mention the prospect of future peace but only extended non-aggression commitments, even towards Israel (point 9).
After Trump’s threat to “wipe the entire Iranian civilization off the map,” three possible scenarios emerged: Iran would retreat; Iran would not retreat, but Trump would back down; or Iran would not retreat and Trump would follow through on his threat. The ceasefire appears to fall between scenarios 1 and 2, with each party now presenting it as a concession from the other.
However, the risk of future escalation remains: Iran could conclude that Trump’s yesterday threat had no material basis. The willingness of the United States to discuss Tehran’s maximalist demands and Iran’s intention to impose a tax for passage through the Strait of Hormuz could make the regime’s position even more uncompromising, increasing the risk of a return to war.
A senior Israeli official stated last night that the ceasefire was coordinated in advance with Israel and that Tehran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without its demands being accepted beforehand: “Iran backed down on its demands and agreed to the request to open the strait.” He added that the Trump administration had assured that it would insist during the negotiations on common points: the withdrawal of 60% enriched uranium from Iranian territory, the end of uranium enrichment by Tehran, and the elimination of the threat posed by ballistic programs.
1 — Complete cessation of any aggression against Iran and allied resistance groups. 2 — Withdrawal of American combat forces from the region, prohibition of any attacks against Iran from bases, and refusal to adopt combat postures. 3 — Limiting the daily passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks under specific supervision and rules. 4 — Lifting all primary, secondary, and UN sanctions. 5 — Compensation for Iranian losses through the establishment of an investment and financial fund. 6 — Iran’s commitment not to manufacture nuclear weapons. 7 — U.S. recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium and negotiation on the enrichment level. 8 — Iran’s agreement to negotiate bilateral and multilateral peace treaties with regional countries in its interests. 9 — Extension of a non-aggression commitment to all aggressors towards all resistance groups. 10 — Repeal of all resolutions from the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council and ratification of all commitments in an official UN resolution.
