Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own | First Thing

Iran rejected a US ceasefire proposal Wednesday and countered with its own negotiation plan while intermediaries work to maintain diplomatic channels between the two adversaries. Iran's foreign minister stated Tehran has "no intention of negotiating for now," signaling hardened positions even as international efforts push for talks. The conflict has killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon, over 1,500 in Iran, and 16 in Israel, with additional casualties reported in the West Bank and Gulf Arab states. Healthcare systems across the Middle East have collapsed amid the fighting, according to international health organizations. The competing proposals underscore deep divisions between Tehran and Washington, with no clear path to negotiations despite intermediary involvement.