The United States is stepping up its troop surge while proposing a ceasefire plan. Iran told the mediators that it suspects the peace talks are just a cover.

# Xu Chao

Source: Wall Street CN

The U.S.-Iran conflict has entered a highly tense phase where diplomacy and military moves run in parallel. On one hand, the U.S. has put forward a 15-point ceasefire proposal via mediators; on the other, it is accelerating troop deployments to the Middle East, with timelines closely aligning with Trump’s deadline. Iran has told mediators it “does not want to be fooled again,” rejecting Trump’s envoys and warning that the energy corridor through the Strait of Hormuz will come under pressure. An Iranian military spokesman bluntly stated: “The Americans are negotiating with themselves.”

The U.S.-Iran conflict has reached a highly tense stage of parallel diplomacy and military escalation. Even as the U.S. delivers a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran through mediators and pushes for face-to-face talks, American forces are rushing reinforcements to the Middle East. The expected arrival of some troops coincides precisely with the “deadline” Trump has set for Iran. Iran, for its part, has made clear to mediating countries that Washington’s peace overtures are nothing more than a “smokescreen.”

According to media reports citing a source directly familiar with the discussions, Iranian officials have explicitly told mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey that the continued U.S. troop buildup and Trump’s deployment decisions have cast deep doubt on America’s sincerity in negotiations. “We do not want to be fooled again,” Iran has stated, pointing out that in two previous rounds of contact, Trump approved military strikes even as he claimed to be seeking an agreement.

As reported by CCTV News, a spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command addressed the U.S. directly on March 25 local time: “The Americans are negotiating with themselves. Do not call your failure an agreement.” The spokesman also warned that U.S. investment in the region “will yield no results” and that oil and gas prices will struggle to return to previous levels. This statement has further heightened concerns about the security of the Strait of Hormuz energy corridor—one of the explicit demands in the U.S. 15-point plan is to keep the strait open.

## The 15-Point Proposal: Comprehensive Restrictions on Nuclear Weapons and Ballistic Missiles

Per CCTV News, the U.S. transmitted the proposal to Iran via mediators on Monday morning, hours before Trump publicly announced the negotiation efforts. According to Israeli sources, Washington has proposed an initial one-month ceasefire to allow talks on the framework.

On the nuclear front, the plan demands sweeping restrictions: Iran must dismantle its existing nuclear capabilities, pledge never to develop nuclear weapons, halt all domestic uranium enrichment, hand over roughly 60% of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, demolish nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow, and grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) unfettered access for comprehensive inspections.

Beyond nuclear issues, the proposal requires Iran to cease supporting regional militant allies—cutting off funding, command, and weapons aid; limit the size and range of its ballistic missiles to defensive purposes only; and guarantee the Strait of Hormuz remains open. In exchange, Iran could receive full relief from international sanctions, U.S. backing for its civilian nuclear program, and the elimination of the “snapback sanctions” mechanism.

## Dual Deployments: Marines and Paratroopers

In lockstep with diplomatic efforts, the U.S. military is rapidly concentrating forces in the Middle East.

Xinhua News Agency reports that the Pentagon has dispatched approximately 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the region. The contingent includes the division’s commander, dozens of staff officers, and two infantry battalions of roughly 800 troops each. Defense officials say the exact deployment location is unclear, with additional forces likely to be sent in the coming days.

The 82nd Airborne maintains a rapid reaction force capable of deploying anywhere in the world within about 18 hours; this deployment draws from that unit. Concurrently, a Marine Expeditionary Unit and its accompanying amphibious warships are scheduled to arrive in the Middle East on March 27, closely matching Trump’s previously stated deadline.

The Pentagon has not adjusted any military orders to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) despite diplomatic outreach, according to reports. U.S. and Israeli officials note that Trump is building both diplomatic and military options in parallel, allowing for flexible decision-making as events unfold.

## Mediators Express Optimism; Iran Remains Deeply Skeptical

On the mediation front, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on social media March 24 that Pakistan would be honored to host substantive talks, provided both Washington and Tehran agree. Trump later retweeted the post, seen by observers as implicit endorsement of Pakistan’s role.

Yet Iran’s skepticism remains profound. Iranian officials have reiterated to Pakistani, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators that ongoing U.S. deployments and Trump’s decisions have eroded trust in America’s negotiating bona fides. “We do not want to be fooled again,” they insist, recalling that Trump authorized attacks while claiming to pursue deals in two prior rounds.

Iran’s references to being “betrayed twice” include an Israeli strike on Iran last June with Trump’s backing—timed just days before scheduled nuclear talks.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf explicitly denied any negotiations with the U.S. in a March 23 social media post, directly contradicting Trump’s same-day claim that the two sides had “held talks and formed agreement points.” U.S. sources revealed March 24 that Iran has also rejected Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as negotiators, labeling them “treacherous.” Tehran reportedly prefers Vice President JD Vance as its interlocutor.

White House officials note that Iran’s top demand is an end to bombing and a guaranteed ceasefire, while Washington seeks to see if Tehran will compromise on core issues it refused to yield on in earlier talks. The gap in core interests between the two sides remains the biggest obstacle to progress.

Commenting on the conflicting messages from all sides, former CIA Director John Brennan said he trusts Iran’s account more than the U.S. president’s. “Clearly, he (Trump) is scrambling to clean up the mess he created,” Brennan remarked.

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