Iran Rejects US Ceasefire Offer and Threatens Attacks on Tel Aviv Amid Ongoing Strikes

The United States conducted its 13th consecutive night of airstrikes against targets in Iran between Thursday and Friday, amid escalating tensions and threats between Washington and Tehran. Explosions were reported in several southern and southwestern Iranian cities, alongside the activation of air defense systems in Tehran. Concurrently, the New York Times reported that Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal from US President Donald Trump, which was delivered through Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi during his visit to Tehran with a delegation of senior officials. The ceasefire details were not disclosed, but Iranian sources indicated Tehran was unwilling to accept a temporary deal that did not address control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Al-Zaydi’s visit as significant, noting that the core issue was not message transmission but what he called America’s "illogical and greedy" stance. The US military targeted Iranian military bases, drone storage facilities, communication networks, coastal surveillance sites, and naval capabilities, aiming to reduce threats posed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the strikes, the US confirmed that international shipping lanes remain open and under US protection.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that any damage to ships or cargo related to the conflict would be compensated using Iranian funds held by the US. Iranian officials warned that if the US expands military actions, Iran might escalate regionally, including possible attacks on Tel Aviv and urging Yemen’s Houthi rebels to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital maritime route.

Western intelligence agencies assessed that Iran might attempt to strike Israel first to provoke a broader conflict. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene a security cabinet meeting amid heightened alertness. Trump also stated he is considering a "massive and unprecedented" attack on Iran and claimed Israel would join within minutes if requested, though he said US forces do not currently need Israeli involvement. Israeli lawmakers and local authorities are preparing for potential escalation, with some opening public shelters despite no official Home Front Command directives yet. The Israeli military remains on high alert for rapid developments in the region.