Washington and Tehran muddy waters of tentative peace plan

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The White House insisted yesterday that Iran had not rejected a 15-point ceasefire plan, despite a Tehran official telling state media that the proposal was “excessive” and a military spokesperson saying the Americans were negotiating with themselves. Tehran has consistently denied that any dialogue is taking place, even though it is engaged in a back channel with the US. Talks reportedly centre on a US plan, believed to address Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. Tehran has provided a counter-proposal, believed to include security guarantees and reparations. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said the 15-point plan put forward by the US was “speculative” with “elements of truth to it”. In sum, the public is none the wiser about what is being accepted, rejected, or even proposed in the search for peace.