Taxpayers will fund your failure, Iran tells US

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged the U.S. to accept Tehran’s 14-point peace plan aiming to end hostilities and lift economic sanctions, warning that ongoing resistance will lead to costly failures funded by American taxpayers. Despite rejection from the U.S. and stalled talks, rising military readiness in Iran and regional tensions over the Strait of Hormuz keep the conflict volatile and uncertain.

Iran’s chief negotiator urged the United States on Tuesday to accept Tehran’s latest peace plan to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, warning that continued resistance would result in repeated failures funded by American taxpayers. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that the only viable option was to recognize the rights of the Iranian people as outlined in Iran’s 14-point proposal to end hostilities.

The proposal calls for a comprehensive cessation of fighting across all fronts, including Lebanon, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets held abroad. Despite these demands, the plan has been rejected by the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump, with both sides refusing to make concessions. However, there appears to be little appetite on either side for escalating the conflict further.

During testimony to Congress on Tuesday, Pentagon officials reported that the U.S. expenditure on the war has now approached $29 billion, an increase of approximately $4 billion in less than two weeks. Ghalibaf warned that delaying negotiations would increase the financial burden on American taxpayers.

Meanwhile, Iran’s military forces in Tehran conducted drills aimed at enhancing combat readiness. Brig. Gen. Hassan Hassanzadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards in the capital, said the exercises were designed to strengthen the ability to respond to any enemy movements. The drills involved the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij internal police force, demonstrating Tehran’s preparation for potential confrontations.

The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran remains a critical issue. Foreign ministers from Qatar and Turkiye met in Doha to address the situation. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani criticized Tehran’s strategy, saying, “Iran should not use this strait as a weapon to pressure or to blackmail the Gulf countries.” The blockade poses significant risks to international shipping and regional stability.

Within Iran, public sentiment is marked by uncertainty and apprehension about the future. Maryam, a 43-year-old artist living in Tehran, expressed concerns shared by many citizens. “We are just trying to dig our nails into anything that could help us survive,” she said. “The future is so uncertain and we are just living day to day. We are trying to find a way to continue. Keeping hope is difficult.”

With negotiations stalled and tensions mounting, the international community continues to watch for developments that might alter the course of the longstanding conflict.