All eyes are on Iran today: on the day Donald Trump's latest ultimatum expires, the Israeli military is urging Iranians not to take the train because it "endangers your lives." "Urgent notice to train users and passengers in Iran," reads the IDF's Farsi-language channel X. "Dear citizens, for your safety, we kindly ask you to refrain from using and traveling by train throughout Iran from now until 9:00 PM (Iranian time). Your presence on trains and near railway lines endangers your lives."

This state of alert comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reportedly "unconscious and receiving medical treatment in the city of Qom." This is according to a diplomatic memorandum based on assessments by Israeli and US intelligence, published by the British newspaper The Times and reported by Israeli outlet Ynet. Khamenei is reportedly unconscious and "in serious condition that prevents him from participating in any regime decision-making process." According to the Times, Israeli and US intelligence agencies had long been aware of Khamenei Jr.'s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, the mediators presented the so-called "Islamabad Agreement": a 45-day truce allowing for negotiations on everything else, including the unblocking of Hormuz. Donald Trump's reaction was "an important step, but not enough," followed by a new threat to the ayatollahs: "Iran can be eliminated overnight, and it could happen Tuesday night," the date of the new and "definitive" ultimatum the tycoon issued to the regime to accept an agreement.

Tehran, however, has rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, putting forward a 10-point counterplan that primarily aims to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities. These proposals are accompanied by a new message of resistance from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei : "Crimes and killings will not affect us." The plan brokered by Pakistan calls for an immediate ceasefire, followed by negotiations for a comprehensive agreement (including the Hormuz issue and uranium stockpiles) to be concluded within 15-20 days, a source familiar with the matter said. He cited intense contacts between Pakistan's Chief of Staff Asim Munir, US Vice President J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Egyptians and Turks are also involved in the mediation, other sources said, confirming that the negotiations would be in two phases, with the possibility of extending the truce.

WAR IN IRAN, ALL THE NEWS

The chances of an agreement within a few days are still considered slim. According to Iranian media, the theocracy has sent Pakistan a "10-point" counterproposal that, first and foremost, "rejects the ceasefire, emphasizing the need for a definitive end to the conflict." It also calls for an end to hostilities in the region, a protocol for safe passage through Hormuz, compensation, and the lifting of sanctions. In any case, the strait, a key hub for international trade, "will not be reopened in exchange for a temporary truce." The US's 15-point plan for Tehran remains "unacceptable."

On Easter Sunday, Trump wrote his usual fiery post on Truth, upping the ante even further: "Open the damn Straits, you crazy bastards, or you'll live in hell," and bombs will fall on all the country's "bridges" and "power plants." At the same time, the White House occupant extended the ultimatum to Tehran by one day, to 8 p.m. today (2 a.m. Wednesday morning in Italy). According to American sources, the White House thus wanted to give negotiations one last chance before greenlighting the operational plan, already in place, for a massive Israeli-American bombing campaign against energy facilities. "We'll see what happens. The war could end quickly if they do certain things," the tycoon later told reporters, adding that Vance could be involved in any in-person negotiations. "Negotiations are progressing well, I have the best plan," he assured at a marathon press conference dedicated to the rescue operation of the pilot missing in Iran.

On the Israeli front, diplomatic efforts don't seem to be of much interest to Benjamin Netanyahu, who has already launched raids on Iranian petrochemical complexes, including the key South Pars site, and intends to continue decimating the Islamic Republic's leadership. The prime minister, in a post celebrating the killing of the intelligence chief and a Quds Force commander, assured: "We will continue with all our strength, on all fronts, until the threat is eliminated and all war objectives are achieved." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a leading mediator, accused the Israeli government of "continuing to undermine all initiatives aimed at ending the war."

(Unioneonline/D)

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