Middle East conflict: Tehran issues Washington 30-day ultimatum to lift embargo

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has given the US military a 30-day ultimatum to lift its blockade of ports, essentially forcing US President Donald Trump to decide between a daunting military operation and an unpalatable agreement.

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This stern warning comes on the heels of Tehran submitting a 14-point proposal to the US, which includes demands for non-aggression guarantees, the removal of the naval blockade, and a comprehensive cessation of hostilities, including those in Lebanon.

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According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, the 14-point plan seeks a permanent end to the conflict, rather than a fleeting ceasefire or temporary pause, as well as the lifting of the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports, coupled with trust-building measures between the US and Iran.

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In response to the proposal, Trump expressed uncertainty about the possibility of a deal with Iran, stating that he was reviewing the plan, just a day after voicing dissatisfaction with a previous offer from Tehran that was mediated by Pakistan.

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The proposal was sent to Pakistan on Thursday, which led to a ceasefire agreement between the two sides, and was formulated as a counter to a nine-point US plan, as reported by the Iranian Tasnim news agency.

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Despite the ceasefire commencing on April 8, Washington and Tehran have thus far been unable to negotiate a lasting peace deal, with Tehran pushing for a permanent end to the conflict and Trump insisting that Iran must first lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and agree to halt its uranium enrichment activities.

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The Iranian blockade of the strait was a retaliatory measure in response to the US and Israel launching attacks on the country on February 28, and the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian ports by the Trump administration has served to escalate tensions.

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The US and Iran continue to engage in a naval war, with both sides attacking, capturing, and intercepting each other's ships in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the persistence of the conflict.