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Iran is preparing for a sustained conflict and does not intend to accept the conditions being set by the United States and Israel, according to a report citing regional diplomatic sources.

An Arab diplomat involved in ongoing contacts between Tehran and Washington said Iranian leadership believes it can continue fighting for an extended period and ultimately end the war on terms more favorable to itself. The report was presented Monday morning on a news program on Israel’s Kan public broadcaster.

According to the diplomat, this assessment is not only being conveyed publicly but is also firmly held behind closed doors within Iran’s leadership. Officials in Tehran view the demands coming from Washington and Jerusalem as tantamount to surrender, and for that reason have not even responded to President Donald Trump’s reported 15-point proposal.

The same source said Iranian officials believe they have the capacity to withstand a prolonged military campaign while inflicting even greater damage on Israel, the United States, and other countries in the region.

As a result, diplomatic circles in the Middle East are increasingly pessimistic about the chances of de-escalation, with officials warning that only an extraordinary development is likely to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Two Republican election officials say they expect legal challenges to succeed against President Donald Trump’s executive order placing new limits on mail-in voting, raising doubts about whether the policy will withstand scrutiny in court.

Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer both indicated that lawsuits already filed against the order are likely to prevail.

Speaking on ABC News’ “This Week,” Schmidt emphasized the importance of clarity and consistency in election procedures. “We want voters to know that the election is going to be free, fair, safe, and secure, and that everyone knows what the rules are prior to going into this,” Schmidt said. “So confusion is never a positive thing unless you are seeking to sow distrust in the outcome of an election,” Schmidt said.

Trump’s executive order calls for the federal government to assemble lists of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state and to use federal databases to assist state officials in confirming voter eligibility.

The directive also instructs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to individuals listed on each state’s approved mail-in voting rolls and mandates that election-related records be retained for a period of five years.

Opposition to the measure has quickly mounted. A group of Democratic state attorneys general announced Friday that they had filed a lawsuit in federal court in Boston challenging the legality of the order. The case is one of several brought by Democratic organizations and voting rights groups seeking to block its implementation.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is also involved in litigation against the order, said the courts are likely to act swiftly. “We’re going to work as hard as we can to make sure that this is a free and fair election,” Jeffries said on “This Week.” “That executive order is unlawful and unconstitutional. We’ve already filed litigation, and we expect that it will be declared so in short order by the courts,” Jeffries said.

Richer, who oversaw elections in Arizona’s Maricopa County for several years, described the executive order as unnecessary, noting that his state already incorporates many of the safeguards the administration is seeking to implement nationwide. Arizona has “some of the underlying features that President Trump aspires to have in all elections,” Richer said. “While I agree with some of the elements in the executive order and some of the aspirations, the form does matter.”

The White House, however, has defended the move, maintaining that the order is designed to bolster election security and ensure that only eligible citizens are able to vote.

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President Donald Trump indicated Sunday that deploying U.S. ground forces in Iran remains a possibility if Tehran refuses to agree to terms that include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring escalating pressure as negotiations appear uncertain.

Speaking to The Hill, Trump declined to rule out the use of ground troops when pressed on the issue. “Normal people would make a deal. Smart people would make a deal,” Trump said. “If they were smart, they would make a deal.”

Earlier in the day, the president issued a stark warning to Iran, giving its leadership a 48-hour window to either reach an agreement or reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a vital route through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply flows.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one in Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “There will be nothing like it!!! Open the … Strait, you crazy …., or you’ll be living in Hell, JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

The warning followed another post the day before in which Trump emphasized the narrowing timeline for a resolution. “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out, 48 hours before all Hell will rain down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

Trump also made clear that, absent an agreement, potential U.S. targets would not be limited, suggesting a broad range of infrastructure could be struck if diplomacy fails.

In a separate, brief post Sunday, Trump added to the tension with a cryptic message: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time.” The White House has not yet clarified the meaning of the statement.

While continuing to issue strong warnings, Trump has at times offered a more optimistic outlook on the prospects for a deal. In remarks to Fox News on Sunday, he suggested an agreement could be reached as soon as Monday, while telling Axios that a resolution might come by Tuesday, even as he maintained a hardline stance.

“There is a good chance, but if they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there,” he told Axios.

Last week, Trump projected that the confrontation with Iran could conclude within two to three weeks, aligning with an earlier administration estimate of a four- to six-week timeframe following the outbreak of hostilities on February 28.

However, the potential introduction of U.S. ground forces could complicate those expectations. While many Republicans have backed the administration’s approach, some have expressed reservations about committing American troops on the ground in Iran, according to The Hill.