White House intensifies Iran threats amid GOP lawmakers' pullback

Middle East outlets stress that Iran views Washington’s plan to end the war as one-sided and rejects Trump’s claim that Tehran asked for a pause. They focus on the human and economic costs in the region and the risk that US strikes on energy sites would deepen the crisis. This block expects Iran to resist US deadlines while trying to avoid steps that could justify a large US attack.

• •Iranian officials describe the US proposal to end the war as favoring American interests and ignoring Iranian security concerns.
• •Tehran denies asking Washington to delay strikes on its energy plants and portrays Trump’s claim as a pressure tactic.
• •Public disapproval of the Iran war is high in the United States, yet Congress has not taken concrete steps to stop it.
• •Any US attack on Iranian energy infrastructure would threaten regional economies that depend on Gulf oil exports.
• •Iran is watching US red lines around the Strait of Hormuz while setting its own limits on what it will accept.