As the conflict nears a month, the Trump administration is simultaneously advancing a ceasefire proposal with Iran and sending additional U.S. forces to the region. A U.S. official said written orders have gone out for as many as 2,000–3,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to deploy to the Middle East. Those troops would come from the division’s Immediate Response Force, which can be mobilized worldwide in roughly 18 hours.
The deployment would add to about 50,000 U.S. personnel already operating in the area. Along with two Marine Expeditionary Units moving toward the Persian Gulf, the new orders could position some 6,000–8,000 U.S. ground forces within reach of Iran. President Trump has repeatedly said he does not intend to put large numbers of boots on the ground, though he has not ruled out any option.
Ceasefire proposal
The administration has prepared a 15-point ceasefire plan, first reported by the New York Times and Israeli outlets, that would require Iran to pledge never to pursue nuclear weapons and to dismantle any existing nuclear capabilities. A person briefed on the plan told NPR that the publicly described version reflected an early draft and has been revised since.
Two Pakistani officials told the Associated Press that Iran has received the proposal. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said his country is ready to help facilitate talks between the U.S. and Iran and signaled outreach to both sides on social media.
Iranian reaction
Iranian officials have publicly denied that negotiations are underway. On state television, military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari dismissed reports of talks, accusing U.S. officials of trying to dress a defeat as an agreement and saying Iran would never “come to terms” with the United States.
Strait of Hormuz and maritime transit
Iran’s mission to the United Nations said it would permit the “safe passage” of “non-hostile” ships through the Strait of Hormuz but explicitly excluded vessels from the U.S., Israel and other countries it considers parties to the conflict. The mission said passage by neutral countries would be coordinated with Iranian authorities and that U.S. and allied assets do not qualify as innocent or non-hostile.
The statement followed weeks in which Iran restricted or closed traffic through the strait after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes and launched attacks on roughly two dozen ships. The disruption has trapped hundreds of tankers and merchant vessels, stranded thousands of seafarers and contributed to sharp increases in global oil and gas prices. Iran described its actions as “precautionary measures,” warning countries to comply without detailing the steps taken.
Regional fighting
Israel has continued strikes it says target Iranian assets, and Iran has fired missiles at Israel. The fighting has included exchanges in Lebanon and attacks on energy infrastructure across the Gulf, raising international concerns about energy security and broader regional escalation.
Reporting contributions: Quil Lawrence, Daniel Estrin, Rebecca Rosman.