Iran US war highlights: Trump says Iran negotiators denying talks due to fear of being ‘killed by own people’

Iran US war: thick plume of smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a U.S.-Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran, March 8, 2026. (AP Photo/ File)

Iran US war highlights: The updates to this live blog have ended. Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday said that the US' talk of negotiations with Tehran was an “admission of defeat”. Araghchi insisted that Iran would hold “no talks” with Washington. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a warning, saying US President Donald Trump “does not bluff and he is prepared to unleash hell” if Tehran fails to accept its the “reality.”

Iran earlier today rejected Trump's 15-point peace plan, calling it “excessive”. In response, Tehran has laid out five key demands for the end of the war, which includes a demand for sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

US' peace plan mentions sanctions relief, limits of Iran's nuclear programme, monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency, missile limits and access for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a Pakistani official told The Associated Press.

However, as per state media, Iran has rejected this plan and also stated that Trump “cannot dictate” when the war will end. Tehran has further stated that the war with US and Israel will end at the time “Iran chooses and only if its own conditions are met.”

After Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey ready to mediate

After Pakistan's formal statement on hosting talks between the US and Iran, Egypt and Turkey have also stepped in, stating that they would be open to hosting meetings related to Iran and brining the conflict to an end.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that Cairo was ready to host any meetings related to Iran as long as it serves de-escalation. “We have to continue our efforts, it’s all about diplomacy and negotiations,” the minister added after Iran rejected the US proposal.

Turkey has also emerged as one of the key mediators between the US and Iran. As per reports, apart from Pakistan, Istanbul is also being considered as a location for the talks between Washington and Tehran.

What are Iran's demands for the ceasefire?

As per Press TV, Iranian officials have listed out five major demands in order for the ongoing conflict to end. These are -

• A complete halt to "aggression and assassinations" by the enemy.
• The establishment of concrete mechanisms to ensure that the war is not reimposed on the Islamic Republic.
• Guaranteed and clearly defined payment of war damages and reparations.
• The conclusion of the war across all fronts and for all resistance groups involved throughout the region
• Iran's exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz is and will remain Iran's natural and legal right, and it constitutes a guarantee for the implementation of the other party's commitments, and must be recognized.