Former FM’s Peace Terms Exclude Hardest-Hit States

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has proposed a bilateral reset with the United States to end the current regional war, though the terms of this proposal exclude several Gulf states that have sustained significant damage during the conflict. According to reporting from Foreign Policy, this approach focuses on a direct agreement between Tehran and Washington, a strategy that is viewed as unacceptable by regional partners in the Gulf.

The proposal comes amid a volatile security environment in the Middle East. The current conflict began on February 28, 2026, with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, subsequently expanding across the region. The violence has persisted for nearly four weeks, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describing the situation as out of control.

US Response and Peace Plan

The White House has signaled a willingness to end the war but has maintained a hardline stance regarding Iran’s compliance. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, that President Donald Trump is prepared to unleash hell if Iran does not accept a deal to end the fighting.

The US has put forward a 15-point peace plan intended to stop the hostilities. Pakistani officials previously indicated that they had conveyed this plan to Tehran. However, the White House warned that if Iran fails to accept the current reality, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before.

Iranian Rejection of Terms

Tehran has formally rebuffed the American overture. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on state television that Iran does not intend to negotiate, asserting that the current policy is the continuation of resistance.

Araghchi further claimed that the United States’ pursuit of negotiations at this stage constitutes an admission of defeat by Washington. An unidentified official cited by Press TV added that Tehran has responded negatively to the US plan and insists that the war will only end on Iranian terms, which include specific guarantees against future attacks.

We seek an end to the war on our own terms, and in a way that it will not be repeated here again.

Abbas Araghchi, Iranian Foreign Minister

Regional Impact and Escalation Risks

The conflict has affected numerous states across the Middle East. The proposal for a bilateral reset is particularly contentious because it omits the perspectives and needs of states that have absorbed significant damage, including:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

The risk of further escalation remains high. Iran has threatened to open a new front by targeting shipping in the Red Sea if the United States launches a ground invasion. This threat coincides with reports that thousands of additional US troops are heading to the Middle East.

Diplomatic Background

The current tensions follow a period of attempted diplomacy. Between April 12, 2025, and June 13, 2025, the US and Iran engaged in a 62-day round of negotiations in Muscat, Oman, aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement. A second round of talks took place from February 6 to February 28, 2026, in Rome and Geneva, involving US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. These negotiations preceded the outbreak of the current war on February 28.