Tensions Rise as Iran Rejects Demands Ahead of Trump's Deadline

Iran and Israel exchanged fresh rounds of attacks on Tuesday, intensifying an already volatile conflict as diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting appeared to collapse. 

Tehran firmly rejected a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal and refused to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz, defying mounting international pressure.

The escalation comes just hours before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has warned that failure to comply with his demands could trigger large-scale military strikes on Iranian infrastructure. 

According to Reuters, Israeli forces carried out new airstrikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, while Iran responded with missile attacks across the region, including strikes linked to Gulf states. 

Tehran has dismissed the proposed temporary truce brokered through international mediators and instead presented its own conditions, which include a permanent end to hostilities, sanctions relief, and reconstruction commitments. 

The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz remains a central flashpoint. Iran’s continued closure of the vital oil transit route has heightened global economic concerns, pushing oil prices above $110 per barrel and disrupting energy markets worldwide. 

Meanwhile, Trump has doubled down on his ultimatum, threatening “devastating” consequences if Iran does not comply before the deadline, further raising fears of a wider regional war.