Donald Trump has accepted as a “basis” for negotiations 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 “held back” 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 considering the American proposal in 15 points, including an commitment from Iran not to acquire nuclear weapons, the surrender of its highly enriched uranium stocks, limitations on its ballistic capabilities, the end of its support for allied groups in the region, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In the region, the news is met with relief and caution. While Benjamin Netanyahu officially supported this ceasefire, Israel clarified that it did not apply to its actions in Lebanon against Hezbollah. In the Gulf, this decision was welcomed but the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council adopted a restrained position.
The list below, translated by the Iranian news agency Fars News Agency, follows Trump’s announcement mentioning the 10-point plan. The Iranian Foreign Minister confirmed that these ten points were the condition for the ceasefire and the basis for any negotiation. These demands align with the maximalist ambitions of the Islamic Republic and could, if implemented, be a significant strategic victory for Iran.
Comparing the Iranian demands with the pre-war situation, 80% of these demands, if accepted, would put Tehran in a better geopolitical position than before February 28, 2026.
As a point of comparison, the points of the Pakistani-Chinese mediation for an “expanded” ceasefire are almost nonexistent in Tehran’s demands, which do not mention the prospect of future peace in their ceasefire plan, but only commitments to non-aggression, even towards Israel.
Following Trump’s threat to “wipe out the entire Iranian civilization”, there were three possible scenarios: Iran would retreat; Iran would not retreat, but Trump would back down; or Iran would not retreat and Trump would act on his threat. The ceasefire seems 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 is not ruled out: Iran could conclude that Trump’s threat had no real material basis. The fact that the United States is willing to negotiate based on Tehran’s maximalist demands, as well as Iran’s intention to impose a tax for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, could make the regime’s position 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 Tehran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without its demands being accepted beforehand: “Iran backed down on its demands and agreed to open the strait.” The Trump administration ensured that it would insist on common points during the negotiations: the withdrawal of enriched uranium to 60% from Iranian territory, the cessation of uranium enrichment by Tehran, and the elimination of the threat posed by ballistic programs.
