Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal as diplomatic negotiations collapse with less than a day remaining on President Donald Trump's ultimatum.
Trump set a hard deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday for Tehran to accept a deal, warning that failure to comply would trigger a military response targeting Iran's infrastructure. "After that, they're going to have no bridges," Trump said during a White House news conference Monday.
The rejection signals a breakdown in last-minute negotiations meant to resolve the ongoing conflict. U.S. and Iranian representatives had been attempting to reach an agreement before the deadline, but the positions of both sides remain fundamentally misaligned.
The ultimatum reflects Trump's stated preference for a negotiated end to hostilities, though his framing of the consequences indicates serious military preparations if Iran does not comply. Officials have indicated that infrastructure sites are among the potential targets being considered.
Iran's refusal of the temporary ceasefire suggests the government in Tehran views the proposal as insufficient or unacceptable on its terms. The nature of Tehran's counterproposal, if one exists, remained unclear as the deadline approached.
The situation represents a critical moment in the broader conflict, with both nations apparently prepared to escalate rather than compromise in the short term remaining.
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