Iranian missiles at an exhibition in northern Tehran.Image: keystone
The US government is said to have presented Iran with a 15-point plan, both sides are expressing maximum demands and the Gulf states are once again the target of attacks – the most important news about the Iran war.
March 25, 2026, 7:30 a.mMarch 25, 2026, 7:30 a.m
US presents 15-point plan to Iran
According to media reports, the US government has presented the rulers in Tehran with a 15-point plan to end the Iran war. Pakistan passed the proposal on to Iran, reported US media such as the Axios portal and the New York Times. The plan therefore demands major concessions from the leadership in Tehran.
In its 15-point plan, the USA is reportedly calling for, among other things, the destruction of important facilities in the Iranian nuclear program, a halt to uranium enrichment and the production of ballistic missiles, and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, Iran should hand over its stock of already enriched uranium – and thereby allay fears that the Islamists in Tehran could one day get their hands on nuclear weapons. In return, the tough sanctions against Iran should be relaxed, as the Wall Street Journal reported.
Axios reported that US special envoy Steve Witkoff told Trump that the Iranians had agreed to several key points – including that they were prepared to give up their stockpiles of enriched uranium. Officially, Tehran says that there can be no talk of negotiations with the Americans at all.
The media reports citing informed US officials could not initially be independently verified. It also remained unclear how Israel, as an important war party and weapons partner of the USA, would feel about a possible ceasefire agreement with its archenemy.
Oil prices are falling again
The reports about the alleged US proposal and a possible planned meeting between representatives of the US and Iran mediated by Pakistan caused the price of oil, which had risen drastically since the beginning of the war, to fall slightly. Confident statements from US President Donald Trump that Iran “absolutely wants to conclude a deal” also contributed to this. For the USA, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance are now involved in negotiations, said Trump.
Iran wants to negotiate with Vance
There were previous reports that Iran explicitly demanded JD Vance’s participation in the talks. The regime is said to have not believed that serious talks about a solution would be possible with the previous chief negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
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However, a quick agreement on a ceasefire seems rather unrealistic: Iran is by no means defeated, but is still capable of attacking Israel and the states in the Persian Gulf and blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran is therefore unlikely to want to fulfill Washington’s wish list.
Iran counters with maximum demands
The Wall Street Journal reported on a response from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to the US move, which in turn is said to include numerous demands that Washington is unlikely to meet – including the evacuation of all US military bases around the Persian Gulf and a new system that would allow Iran to collect tolls from ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is of great strategic importance, and not just for the transport of oil and liquid gas. Currently, shipping traffic has practically come to a standstill due to Iranian attacks and threats, which is why oil and gas prices have risen sharply since the war began a good three and a half weeks ago.
USA deploys thousands of paratroopers to the Middle East
A large troop shift by the USA is unlikely to do much to build trust between the two enemies. According to the Washington Post, the US Department of Defense ordered the deployment of around 3,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. The New York Times, on the other hand, spoke of around 2,000 soldiers. The US special forces can parachute over enemy territory and could conceivably be the spearhead of a possible ground operation.
There is still no decision to be made as to whether ground troops will actually be deployed in Iran. The “Wall Street Journal” found that the relocation of the soldiers would in any case give Trump additional options for action.
In connection with the relocation of US marines, there has long been speculation that Trump could use the troops to take Iran’s most important oil export port on the island of Kharg in the Persian Gulf. The logic goes that the USA could use this lever as a means of pressure against Iran. In that case, Tehran would be virtually unable to export any oil itself – and would therefore have little interest in opening the Strait of Hormuz. However, a loss of exports via Kharg Island would be economically devastating for Iran.
Again attacks on Gulf states
Meanwhile, Iran continued its attacks on targets in the Persian Gulf states with missiles and drones. Tehran considers these Arab states to be US allies and therefore sees them as legitimate targets.
A fuel depot at Kuwait’s international airport was hit in a drone attack overnight and caught fire. According to initial findings, the damage was limited and there were no injuries, the government said. No information was given about the alleged attacker. According to the military, air defenses fended off enemy drones and missiles during the night. Iran has recently targeted airports several times, such as the important hub in Dubai.
The air defense in Saudi Arabia also intercepted numerous drones during the night, as well as a ballistic missile, as the Ministry of Defense announced. According to the Interior Ministry, warning sirens were activated in Bahrain. The island nation’s citizens were called upon to remain calm and seek safety. (sda/dpa/con)