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Iran on Wednesday dismissed President Donald Trump’s assertion that its leadership had requested a ceasefire, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continued to escalate.

Esmail Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, rejected the claim outright, calling it “false and baseless,” according to Iranian state media reports.

In a separate announcement, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps emphasized that it maintains full authority over the Strait of Hormuz and signaled no intention of reopening the critical waterway.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” the IRGC said, adding that the passage “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.

The Iranian responses followed remarks Trump posted on Truth Social, where he claimed that Tehran had sought a ceasefire.

“Iran’s new regime president, much less radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE!” Trump wrote.

He made clear that any agreement would depend on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Trump has also recently argued that Iran has effectively undergone a leadership shake-up, pointing to the elimination of key figures who were in power at the start of the war.

Speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said he expects the conflict to continue for a short period longer while negotiations proceed.

“We’re negotiating with them right now. We have had regime change. Regime change was not one of the things I had as a goal. I had one goal. They will have no nuclear weapon. And that goal has been attained. They will not have nuclear weapons. But we’re finishing the job. And I think within maybe two weeks, maybe a couple of days longer to do the job.”

He added that the administration is seeking to dismantle Iran’s remaining capabilities, while leaving open the possibility of a deal.

“we want to knock out every single thing they have. It’s possible that we’ll make a deal before that..but if they come to the table, that’ll be good. But it doesn’t matter whether they come or not. We’ve set them back. It’ll take 15 to 20 years for them to rebuild what we’ve done to them.”

Trump went on to describe what he said was the current state of Iran’s military and leadership following recent strikes.

“They have no Navy. They have no military. They have no Air Force. They have no telecommunications and no anti-aircraft systems. They have no leaders. You know, their leaders are all gone. That’s why we have regime change. We have nice new leaders.”

American and Iranian officials are exploring a possible agreement that would link a ceasefire to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. officials who spoke with Axios.

The officials said it remains uncertain whether the discussions are happening directly or through intermediaries, and warned that there is no guarantee an agreement will materialize. They added that President Donald Trump has been actively reviewing the idea with advisers both inside and outside his administration.

According to two sources familiar with the matter, Trump discussed the concept of a ceasefire during a Wednesday phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He also held a separate conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.

Behind the scenes, Vice President JD Vance has continued engaging with mediators about a possible ceasefire, including as recently as Tuesday, a source said.

That source indicated Vance relayed a message through intermediaries that the United States would be open to a ceasefire under certain conditions, chief among them the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Vance reinforced Trump’s warning that Iranian infrastructure could be targeted if negotiations fail.

Trump said publicly on Wednesday that Iran had reached out to request a ceasefire, but emphasized that any such arrangement would hinge on reopening the vital waterway.

A similar proposal was put forward Tuesday by China and Pakistan as part of a broader peace initiative.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry quickly pushed back on Trump’s claim, insisting that no direct talks are taking place between Tehran and Washington.

It is possible Trump was referencing comments made Tuesday by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a call with European Council President António Costa.

Pezeshkian indicated that Iran would be willing to halt the fighting, provided the United States stops its attacks and offers assurances that hostilities would not resume.

“Iran’s New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that, absent such a development, the U.S. would continue “blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed Trump’s remarks, calling them “false and baseless”

Despite Trump’s reference to a “new” leadership, Pezeshkian was already in office prior to the outbreak of the war, and many analysts believe more hardline elements within Iran are currently directing policy.

Looking ahead, Trump has repeatedly signaled that the conflict could conclude in the near future, though he has not ruled out the possibility of a ground campaign.

Israel and several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, are pressing the administration to maintain pressure, while some officials within the White House are quietly exploring ways to de-escalate.

Trump is scheduled to deliver a national address on Iran at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

Dear Matzav Inbox,  When it comes to the Seder, every child is taught about asking their father the 4 questions. Occasionally, there is a fifth question, one which comes first; where is my father? Children don’t vocalize this question though. It’s too painful to bring up. But nobody talking about it makes it feel even worse – like he doesn’t even exist. But he does exist. And he wants to be with his children. He’s just not allowed to. It’s not his “visitation” or “parenting time” right now. This brings up a sixth question: Why? Why can’t my father be with me now? Why is he only allowed to be with me sometimes? And a seventh and more: Who isn’t allowing him to be with me? Does that mean they can stop him from doing other things for me? From protecting me? From giving me what I need from him? Why can somebody stop my father from being my father? So we explain: when parents divorce, they cannot live together, and so, each parent only has certain times with their children. Now happens to be not Tatty’s time. This only brings up more questions: what about me? Why can’t I have both parents at the same time? Why can’t my parents get along like anyone else’s? Why do I have to sit by the Seder and not be able to ask the 4 questions to my father!? Sure, we can give them many explanations: if your father’s not there you can ask your mother, or your grandfather (like it says in Shulchan Aruch), not all children live with their fathers, your father has issues or is a terrible person, you’ll be fine, and probably some others. So you’ve explained my father away. Now I have an explanation, so I don’t need my father. So I’ll sit here by the Seder, pretending to be happy, distracting from this deep ache and longing in my heart. And though nobody cares about the father, (because of all the explanations: he did it to himself, he should’ve been better, he was given the option, he doesn’t deserve it, he’s not a good father, and some others) I will ask his questions too: when does this end? When will I have to stop going to court? When will the threat of jail stop being a threat? When can I be considered a rightful parent to my child? When will my children stop being restricted from me? When will I be able to actually be the only human father my children have? I have all the explanations in the world in my hand, and so I sit by the Seder, pretending to be happy, distracting from this deep ache and longing in my heart. Whether present or distracted, or not there altogether, I am grateful for my children, and I will work to be the best father they deserve. The questions may persist without answers, but the importance of fathers should not be minimized. Please encourage better fathers, and more connection with their children. Don’t forget the father. The child never does. S. Cohen

 

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly backed NATO on Wednesday, pushing back against comments by President Donald Trump suggesting the United States could rethink its role in the alliance after the war with Iran ends.

Speaking to reporters at Downing Street, Starmer emphasized the alliance’s historic importance and the U.K.’s continued commitment to it. “NATO is the single most effective military alliance the world has ever seen,” he said. “It has kept us safe for many decades, and we are fully committed to NATO.”

Starmer also made clear that he would not yield to outside demands, particularly regarding British involvement in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign. “Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make,” he said. “That’s why I’ve been absolutely clear that this is not our war and we’re not going to get dragged into it.”

His remarks come as tensions have grown between Washington and several European governments over their reluctance to contribute military forces to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s supply passes.

In an interview with The Telegraph published Wednesday, Trump signaled deep skepticism about NATO’s value and left open the possibility of a policy shift once the Iran conflict subsides. He described U.S. membership in the alliance as “beyond reconsideration.”

“I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin knows that too, by the way,” Trump said, reinforcing similar remarks made a day earlier by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump also took aim directly at Starmer and the United Kingdom, criticizing Britain’s naval capabilities amid the current crisis in the Persian Gulf. “You don’t even have a navy. You’re too old and had aircraft carriers that didn’t work,” he said, while adding that he would not dictate British defense decisions.

“He can do whatever he wants. It doesn’t matter,” Trump said. “All Starmer wants is costly windmills that are driving your energy prices through the roof.”

Earlier this year, Starmer initially denied a U.S. request to use British bases for potential strikes on Tehran, citing legal concerns. He later reversed that position after Iran intensified its regional attacks, ultimately permitting U.S. operations from U.K. facilities targeting Iranian missile infrastructure threatening maritime traffic.

At the same time, Britain has increased its military presence in the region, sending additional personnel and air defense systems to reinforce Typhoon fighter jets already deployed in Qatar.

With relations between London and Washington under strain, Starmer indicated that Britain is looking more closely toward Europe for future cooperation. “It is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union,” he said.

The Israeli Air Force carried out a sweeping series of strikes over the past two days, hitting roughly 400 targets tied to Iran’s military and weapons production systems, according to a statement released Wednesday by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

During overnight operations, Israeli aircraft, guided by intelligence, launched a large-scale assault on dozens of military infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian regime in central Tehran.

According to the IDF, the strikes also significantly damaged Iran’s weapons production capabilities, with about 15 manufacturing facilities hit, including a major compound associated with Iran’s Ministry of Defense.

The statement explained that within this compound, the Ministry of Defense operated missile production and development facilities designed to produce weapons intended for use against aircraft and unmanned aerial systems.

At the same time, Israeli forces targeted air defense batteries, missile launch platforms, and facilities used for the production and storage of both ballistic missiles and other systems aimed at Israeli aircraft.

“The completed strikes are part of the phase focused on deepening the damage to the core systems and foundations of the Iranian terror regime,” the IDF said.

In a separate operation on Tuesday, Israeli forces struck a research facility involved in the transfer of chemical materials to the Iranian regime.

The site, identified as belonging to the Tofiq Daru Company, was described as a key supplier of fentanyl to the SPND organization, which the IDF says oversees Iran’s chemical weapons development.

Although the factory outwardly operated as a civilian entity, the IDF stated that it was actively supplying chemical substances—including fentanyl—that were used in research and development tied to Iran’s chemical weapons program.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a message directed at the American public, asserting that Iran does not view ordinary U.S. citizens as adversaries, according to reports from state-run media.

In the letter, Pezeshkian attempted to counter longstanding tensions between the two nations, claiming that portraying Iran as an enemy of the American people does not reflect reality. He wrote that such a view was “neither ⁠consistent with historical reality nor ⁠with present-day observable facts.”

At the same time, the Iranian leader called on the United States to halt its military campaign, warning that Iran would endure regardless of American actions.

“Today, the world stands at a crossroads. Continuing along the path of confrontation is more costly and futile than ever before,” he said.

“The choice between confrontation and engagement is both real and consequential; its outcome will shape the future for generations to come,” he added.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that U.S. forces plan to leave Iran in the near term, while leaving open the possibility of returning for limited strikes if necessary.

In a phone interview with Reuters conducted hours before his scheduled national address, Trump outlined his expectations for the war effort and hinted at what he would emphasize in his 9:00 p.m. EDT speech.

During the conversation, Trump said he intends to criticize NATO, expressing frustration with what he views as insufficient backing from the alliance in the campaign against Iran.

He confirmed he is “absolutely” weighing a potential U.S. withdrawal from NATO, the military alliance established in 1949 and approved by the U.S. Senate. Trump has previously threatened to leave the alliance and has pushed member countries to boost their military budgets.

“They haven’t been friends when we needed them,” Trump told Reuters. “We’ve never asked them for much … it’s a one-way street.”

While Trump and senior administration officials have offered varying projections for how long the conflict will last, he reiterated that the campaign could conclude soon, though he declined to commit to a firm deadline in the Reuters interview.

“I can’t tell you exactly … we’re going to be out pretty quickly,” he said, adding that once U.S. forces withdraw, “we’ll come back to do spot hits” on Iranian targets as needed.

Trump said he initially expected that the first round of strikes—targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other top Iranian officials—might lead to a negotiated agreement.

Mojtaba Khamenei has since taken over as Iran’s supreme leader, replacing his father. U.S. officials have indicated he is believed to be wounded and possibly disfigured, while Iran’s president and foreign minister have remained in place.

According to Trump, Iran’s leadership has now undergone a major shift. “I didn’t need regime change, but we got it because of the casualties of war. We got it. So we have regime change and the big thing we have is they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon,” he told Reuters, adding, “Nor do they want one.”

“We have had full regime change,” Trump said. “I’m dealing with a very good chance that we’ll make a deal because they don’t want to be blasted anymore.”

Trump has repeatedly said the primary objective of the war was to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and he told Reuters that goal has already been achieved.

Addressing Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, Trump said: “That’s so far underground, I don’t care about that”, adding, “We’ll always be watching it by satellite.”

He also asserted that Iran is now “incapable” of developing a nuclear weapon.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had approached the United States seeking a ceasefire.

He said any such agreement would depend on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. “We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

Iran rejected the claim, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson calling it “false and baseless.”

Separately, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps said it continues to control the strategic waterway.

“This strait will not be opened to the enemies of this nation through the ridiculous spectacle by the president of the United States,” the IRGC said, adding that it “is firmly and decisively under the control” of its forces.