March 25 - An Iranian military spokesman criticized the United States on Wednesday, saying Washington was effectively negotiating with itself, according to state media coverage. The remarks followed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that Tehran wants to reach a deal to end the war in the Middle East.
Separately, a person familiar with the matter said a 15-point plan, drawn up by Washington, had been sent to Tehran. That development was reported alongside the Iranian military response.
Iranian military response
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, who serves as spokesman for the unified command of Iran's armed forces at the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, addressed U.S. leaders directly. He asked, "Has the level of your inner struggle reached the stage of you negotiating with yourself?" Zolfaqari went on to add a forceful contrast between the two sides, saying, "People like us can never get along with people like you."
In his remarks, Zolfaqari asserted that U.S. investments and the higher energy prices that prevailed before the conflict would not return so long as Washington fails to acknowledge that regional stability is secured by Iranian armed forces.
Context presented in reporting
The reporting indicates two concurrent threads: a U.S. statement attributing to Tehran an interest in a negotiated end to the conflict and an account from a person familiar with the matter that a U.S.-drafted 15-point plan was forwarded to Tehran. The Iranian military spokesman's comments were framed as a response to that diplomatic development and to U.S. leadership statements.
Note on ancillary content
The material accompanying these reports also included a promotional passage questioning what the best investment opportunities for 2026 might be, and describing an investment product that combines institutional data with AI-driven insights. That promotional passage was presented separately from the reporting of statements by officials and sources.
Summary of facts
- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran wants to make a deal to end the war in the Middle East.
- A person familiar with the matter said a 15-point plan, drafted by Washington, was sent to Tehran.
- Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesman for Iran's unified armed forces command, criticized U.S. leadership and said regional stability is guaranteed by Iranian armed forces.