Iran Rejects U.S. Ceasefire Deal as Israel Targets IRGC Oil Chief

Tensions between the United States and Iran intensified over the last 24 hours as Tehran officially rejected a 15-point U.S. ceasefire proposal. Instead, Iranian officials issued a 10-point counter-plan demanding a permanent end to the war, reconstruction funding, and the lifting of sanctions. President Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, characterized the response as a "significant step" but noted it remains insufficient. He reiterated that his Tuesday 8 p.m. Washington deadline remains firm, warning that failure to reach an agreement could lead to strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges. On the military front, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the assassination of Mohammad Reza Ashrafi Kahi in a Tehran airstrike. Kahi served as the head of commerce for the IRGC’s Oil Headquarters and was allegedly responsible for managing billions in revenue used to fund regional proxies. Additional reports from Iranian state media indicate other high-ranking IRGC losses, including intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi. Diplomatic efforts continue indirectly through Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey, with mediators proposing a 45-day truce. However, Iranian diplomats in Cairo have insisted on ironclad guarantees for a total end to the conflict rather than temporary pauses. Meanwhile, the IRGC Navy has signaled a "new order" in the Persian Gulf, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to its prior state for U.S. and Israeli vessels, though Iraq has successfully secured an exemption from these regional shipping restrictions.