The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran stretched into its 27th day Thursday with Iranian officials firmly rejecting U.S. overtures for negotiations while President Donald Trump touted a 15-point peace proposal and warned of escalated strikes if Tehran does not accept what Washington calls military defeat.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated emphatically that no talks are underway and his country will not negotiate while under attack. "No conversations and negotiations have taken place," Araghchi said, dismissing U.S. claims of productive discussions as attempts to manipulate markets and public opinion.
The war erupted Feb. 28 when U.S. and Israeli forces launched surprise airstrikes across Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous senior officials. Iran responded with waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel, U.S. bases and regional allies, while briefly closing the Strait of Hormuz and triggering sharp spikes in global oil prices.
As of Thursday, Israeli forces reported conducting more than 3,000 strikes on Iranian targets, focusing on missile production sites, command centers and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assets. Iran has launched multiple missile barrages at Israel, with recent strikes causing explosions and smoke near Haifa and fragments falling in the Negev desert. Israeli defenses claimed to have intercepted the vast majority of incoming projectiles, though dozens of injuries have been reported.
Trump on Wednesday unveiled elements of a 15-point plan aimed at ending hostilities. The proposal reportedly includes demands that Iran abandon its nuclear program, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, limit its ballistic missile activities and accept other security guarantees. In exchange, the U.S. has hinted at sanctions relief.
Iranian sources described the demands as "unreasonable" and excessive. Tehran has countered with its own conditions, including compensation for war damages, formal international recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz and no restrictions on its missile program.
Despite public optimism from the White House, reports indicate the U.S. is preparing for continued military pressure. Around 1,000 soldiers from the Army's 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy to the region in coming days, signaling that diplomatic efforts are backed by the threat of further escalation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has meanwhile expanded operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, describing the creation of a broader "buffer zone." Hezbollah claimed dozens of rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel in recent days, contributing to a multi-front conflict that has drawn in regional proxies.
The Institute for the Study of War and Critical Threats Project noted that Iran continued firing cluster munitions at Israeli civilian areas earlier in the week, aiming to maximize psychological impact. Israeli strikes have targeted Iranian production facilities in provinces such as Esfahan, seeking to degrade long-term missile capabilities.
Global repercussions have been significant. Oil prices remain elevated due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and fears of wider supply chain impacts. Shipping attacks in the Persian Gulf have increased, and several countries closed airspace in the initial phases of the conflict. The United Nations secretary-general called the situation "out of control" and urged an immediate end to hostilities to prevent a wider regional war.
Trump has sent mixed signals throughout the campaign. He has alternately spoken of wanting a quick deal, threatened to "hit harder" or "unleash hell" if Iran refuses terms, and extended deadlines for negotiations. On March 24 he claimed Iran offered a "very significant prize" involving oil, gas and the Strait of Hormuz, though Tehran quickly denied any substantive talks.
Analysts say the longer the conflict drags on, the narrower the path to resolution becomes. Air power alone has degraded Iranian capabilities but has not achieved decisive regime change or complete disarmament. Iran's new leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei appears determined to project resilience, while domestic pressures and economic strain mount on all sides.
Casualty figures remain difficult to verify independently. Iranian media report hundreds of civilian deaths from U.S.-Israeli strikes, while Israel says its operations have focused on military targets. Dozens of injuries have been confirmed in Israel from Iranian missile fragments and debris. Hezbollah attacks have also caused casualties in northern Israel and along the Lebanon border.
Regional allies have been drawn in variably. Gulf states faced Iranian retaliation early in the conflict, while European nations have expressed concern over potential missile threats extending beyond the Middle East. Some countries have deployed assets to Cyprus and other areas following reported Iranian drone activity.
Diplomacy continues through intermediaries. Pakistan has offered to host talks, and messages have reportedly passed via Egypt, Turkey and other partners. However, Iranian officials insist that indirect exchanges do not constitute negotiations and that Tehran is reviewing proposals on its own timeline.
House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted the conflict could resolve "in short order," reflecting optimism in some U.S. political circles that sustained pressure will force Iranian concessions. Critics warn that prolonged fighting risks broader destabilization, refugee flows and economic shocks that could affect global markets for months.
Energy markets remain sensitive. Any further disruption to Gulf shipping or Iranian oil infrastructure could push crude prices higher, compounding inflationary pressures already felt from earlier spikes. Builders and industries worldwide, including in Australia, have reported rising material and fuel costs linked to the uncertainty.
Humanitarian concerns are growing. Civilian infrastructure in parts of Iran has been damaged, and access to basic services has been disrupted in affected areas. International organizations have called for protected corridors and adherence to laws of armed conflict.
As March 26 dawned, sirens continued to sound intermittently in Israel, while Israeli aircraft conducted fresh waves of strikes inside Iran. Iranian state media broadcast defiant messages, vowing to continue resistance "as far as necessary."
The coming days will test whether diplomatic channels can produce a breakthrough before Trump's latest informal deadlines or whether military operations intensify further. With both sides hardening public positions, the risk of miscalculation remains high.
For now, the war that began with targeted assassinations and surprise airstrikes has evolved into a grinding campaign of attrition, missile exchanges and proxy fighting that shows little sign of immediate resolution.
Originally published on ibtimes.com.au
