US intelligence assessments indicate that recent American military strikes on Iran are unlikely to influence Tehran’s stance or lead to a reduction in its negotiating demands, officials said. The developments come amid ongoing hostilities, including a fresh Iranian attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which forced the vessel’s crew to abandon ship. Both sides have engaged in a series of retaliatory strikes for ten consecutive nights.
Current and former US officials conveyed that Iran’s government appears resilient to the recent round of attacks, with no indication that these actions will prompt Tehran to de-escalate. According to information shared with the Trump administration, the situation remains deadlocked, with both Washington and Tehran unwilling to back down.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has openly committed to prolonging the conflict, declaring it will continue its campaign “until the very last day.” On Monday, the group warned that Iranian missiles and drones will persistently target US forces, despite the duration of the conflict. President Donald Trump, in turn, issued a sharp warning reiterating that Iran would face severe consequences for the deaths of three US soldiers in attacks on a US base in Jordan last weekend, including the 19-year-old soldier Isabella Gonzalez. Trump stated via his social media platform that Iran would “pay for that killing many times over,” emphasizing that military and defense leaders had been instructed accordingly.
Complicating the conflict, reports surfaced that Iran proposed a 10-day ceasefire aimed at resolving the ongoing disputes over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Sources involved in the discussions told observers that Tehran remains concerned about US violations of an informal ceasefire, citing instances where commercial ships bypassed Iran-approved routes by traveling through a southern corridor near Oman. Conversely, the United States argues that Iran’s attacks breach its commitment to permit safe passage for vessels through the strategic waterway.
Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and Pakistan have been engaged in efforts to negotiate a resolution, including suggestions for establishing a “middle corridor” as a potential compromise. Iranian government spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed the active role of diplomatic channels, acknowledging that messages from Washington have been relayed through intermediaries in Qatar, though he refrained from sharing specifics.
Iran has intensified its offensive operations this week, extending attacks beyond the Strait of Hormuz. Targeted sites have included an Amazon data center in Bahrain and water desalination and power plants in Kuwait. Despite the regional escalation, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated at a recent conference that Israel does not wish to become involved in the US-Iran confrontation. Meanwhile, Israeli military forces have withdrawn from certain southern Lebanese areas, with the Lebanese army taking over deployment responsibilities there.