U.S. Media: Mediators Say Iran Did Not "Request" the U.S. to Delay Airstrikes on Energy Facilities

On March 26, Xinhua News Agency reported from Washington that according to sources from the U.S. Wall Street Journal, Iran did not "request" the U.S. to delay airstrikes on Iranian energy facilities for another 10 days, as claimed by U.S. President Trump, and has not yet given a final response to the U.S. proposal to end hostilities known as the "15-point plan."

The report stated that Iranian officials have informed the mediators that they are willing to negotiate, but the Iranian leadership has not yet made a statement or final decision on this matter. Iranian officials had previously made it clear that the U.S. must retract its "excessive demands" in the "15-point plan," or they would not agree to meet to discuss a possible ceasefire. These officials also ruled out making Iran's missile program a starting topic for negotiations and refused to commit to permanently halting uranium enrichment activities.

The mediators pointed out that the chances of reaching a ceasefire remain slim, as both Iran and the U.S. have made extreme demands that the other side cannot accept.

The report did not specify the identity of the "negotiation mediators."

On the afternoon of the 26th, U.S. President Trump posted on social media that "at the request of the Iranian government," he would delay the "destruction" of Iranian energy facilities by 10 days. Trump also stated that relevant negotiations are ongoing and progressing "very smoothly." Previously, on the 21st, Trump threatened that Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or he would destroy its various power plants, and on the 23rd, he extended that deadline by "5 days."