US offers 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran

(AP) — The Trump administration late Tuesday offered a 15-point ceasefire plan to Iran, a person briefed on the contours of the proposal said. It comes as the United States military prepared to call up at least 1,000 more troops to supplement some 50,000 troops already in the Middle East.

The plan was submitted to Iran by intermediaries from Pakistan, who have offered to host renewed negotiations between Washington and Tehran, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

The New York Times was the first to report that the plan had been delivered to Iranian officials.

The US Department of Defense is also in the process of deploying a pair of Marine units that will add about 5,000 Marines and thousands of sailors to the region.

Israeli officials, who have been advocating for President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, were taken by surprise by the submission of a ceasefire plan, the person said.

But with the US taking steps to send additional soldiers and Marines, the move is being framed as Trump maneuvering to give himself “max flexibility” on what he will do next, the person added.

The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Earlier in the day, Trump said the US was in talks with Iran to end the war as diplomatic efforts picked up and Iran issued a newly defiant statement. Meanwhile, airstrikes battered the Islamic Republic while Iranian missiles and drones targeted Israel and sites across the region.

Iran has denied that any negotiations are taking place, and Trump delayed his self-imposed deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran's chokehold on that crucial waterway has snarled international shipping, sent fuel prices skyrocketing and threatened the world economy.

Any talks between the US and Iran would face monumental challenges. Many of Washington’s shifting objectives, particularly over Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, remain difficult to achieve. It’s not clear who in Iran’s government would have the authority to negotiate — or be willing to, as Israel has vowed to continue taking out leaders after killing several.

Iran remains highly suspicious of the United States, which twice under the Trump administration has attacked during high-level diplomatic talks, including with the February 28 strikes that started the current war.

At least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division will be sent top the Mideast in the coming days, three people with knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press.

The 82nd Airborne is considered the Army’s emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice. It’s the latest addition of American troops after US officials last week said thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships will be heading to the region.

While the Marine units are trained in missions that include supporting US embassies, evacuating civilians and disaster relief, the soldiers of 82nd Airborne are trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.

The Marine deployment to the region raises speculation the US may try to seize Kharg Island, which is vital to Iran’s oil network. The US bombed the Persian Gulf island more than a week ago, hitting its defenses but saying it had left oil infrastructure intact.

Iran has threatened to mine the gulf if the US appears to be on the verge of landing troops.

Trump said he would hold off on a threat to bomb Iran’s power stations while talks unfold — a delay that could be aimed at buying time for the Marines to arrive, the New York-based Soufan Center think tank wrote in an analysis.

However, the center also noted that “Trump could be actively seeking an offramp.”

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