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3. Iran Rejects Immediate Ceasefire as Revolutionary Guard's Vow New 'Order' for Persian Gulf

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they are completing preparations to enforce new operating conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, which has been all but shut since the war with the United States and Israel began.

"The IRGC naval force is completing operational preparations for the Iranian authorities' #declared_plan for the new Persian Gulf order," the Guards naval forces said in a post on X Sunday.

They warned conditions in the strait "will never return to its former status, especially for the US and Israel."

Their statement came after US President Donald Trump renewed threats to strike Iran's power plants and bridges if the vital shipping route is not reopened.

Iran has allowed only limited traffic through the waterway since the war began on February 28, disrupting the flow of roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas.

Oman's state news agency said on Sunday that Iran and Oman had held talks on easing passage through the strait, which remains effectively closed due to the conflict.

Iranian lawmakers have in recent weeks proposed imposing tolls and taxes on vessels passing through the waterway.

Pakistani-Backed Initiative

On Monday, Pakistan back-channeled a proposal to Iran and the U.S. which would institute an immediate ceasefire and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz followed by a comprehensive agreement, an inside source told Reuters.

According to the source, Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was in communication with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi throughout Sunday evening and into the morning, through seperate channels.

⁠The source said “all elements need to be agreed today” on the ceasefire, but that there would be a 15–20 day period to finalise a broader settlement. The final agreement is expected to include Iranian commitments not to pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief and the ⁠release of frozen assets, the source said.

Soon after, an Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran wouldn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, noting that Iran believes that the U.S. lacks readiness for a permanent ceasefire.

According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, the proposals wer “excessive, unusual and unreasonable” and not acceptable to Tehran. He said Tehran has drafted its response to proposals and will announce it “when necessary.”

He added that Iran’s focus remained on defending the country amid ongoing attacks, and that diplomacy continued alongside military efforts.