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Day 27: Iran Rejects US Peace Plan as GCC Holds Emergency Summit in Riyadh
By Le Pivot — Iran Monitor · March 25, 2026 · 10 min read
Day twenty-seven of the war. While Washington insists negotiations are underway, Tehran categorically denies it, calling the US 15-point peace plan “maximalist and unreasonable.” The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has convened an emergency meeting in Riyadh to coordinate a regional response, as Iran launched five salvos of ballistic missiles at Israel within two hours. The human toll continues to mount on all sides.
Tehran Rejects US Plan: ‘Maximalist and Unrealistic’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Wednesday that no direct negotiations were taking place between Tehran and Washington, contradicting repeated claims by Donald Trump. Araghchi did, however, acknowledge that messages are being exchanged through intermediaries — which, he emphasized, “does not constitute negotiations” (Al Jazeera).
The US 15-point plan, relayed through Pakistan, was dismissed by an Iranian diplomatic source as “extremely maximalist and unreasonable.” The document reportedly demands the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program, full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and disarmament of pro-Iranian militias across the region. Iranian state television also broadcast five preconditions Tehran requires before agreeing to any ceasefire, though the full details have not been made public.
Washington continues to escalate its rhetoric: the Trump administration warned that Iran must “accept defeat” or face being “hit harder than ever before.” The five-day deadline before targeting Iranian power plants expires on March 28.
Five Iranian Missile Salvos Hit Israel in Two Hours
The Iranian military launched five waves of ballistic missiles toward Israel on Thursday morning within a span of two hours. An Iranian military spokesperson claimed 70 targets were struck inside Israeli territory, though Israel has not confirmed these figures. Nine people were reported injured according to Israeli authorities (Times of Israel).
Meanwhile, Israeli and US forces continued strikes on Iranian territory. The Israeli Air Force conducted “a wide-scale wave of strikes” against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) infrastructure in Tehran, targeting a main headquarters and several military buildings.
The conflict has also spilled into other theaters: two ballistic missiles were fired toward Riyadh, with one intercepted and the other landing in an uninhabited area. The IRGC claimed responsibility for an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
GCC Emergency Meeting: ‘All Red Lines Have Been Crossed’
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem al-Budaiwi declared that Iran’s military actions — including attacks on oil infrastructure and closure of the Strait of Hormuz — had “crossed all red lines” (Al Jazeera).
GCC officials met Wednesday in Riyadh to coordinate their response to the regional escalation. Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones in recent days. In Abu Dhabi, at least two people were killed and three injured by falling debris. In Kuwait, satellite imagery revealed smoke plumes near the international airport following a drone strike.
This emergency meeting marks a turning point for the Gulf monarchies, which had until now attempted to maintain a degree of neutrality in the conflict. The destruction of civilian infrastructure on their soil may push them toward a more openly hostile stance toward Iran.
Death Toll: 1,750 Killed in Iran, 1,094 in Lebanon
The human cost continues to rise. Iran’s deputy permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization stated Wednesday that more than 1,750 people had been killed in Iran since the war began on February 28 (CNN).
In Lebanon, the Health Ministry reported at least 1,094 deaths — including 121 children — from Israeli strikes since March 2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described ongoing operations in southern Lebanon as creating a “buffer zone.”
An IDF soldier was killed in a firefight in Lebanon, while violence in the West Bank has reached unprecedented levels: an Israeli human rights group reported an average of ten settler attacks per day against Palestinians since the beginning of March.
Strait of Hormuz: IRGC Imposes De Facto ‘Toll Booth’
Oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz are now subject to a de facto “toll booth regime” imposed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Since March 13, 26 vessels have passed through the strait following exclusively IRGC-approved routes (CNN).
Trump ultimately called off his ultimatum regarding the strait after Iran received a US message through mediators (CBS News). This softening of rhetoric could signal a willingness to de-escalate at least this dimension of the conflict, but Iran’s control over this vital waterway — through which roughly 90% of Asia-bound crude passes — continues to weigh heavily on global markets.
Key Takeaways
Day 27 illustrates the deadlock gripping this conflict. Iran rejects the US peace plan while continuing missile strikes on Israel and Gulf monarchies. The GCC emergency meeting in Riyadh could mark a shift by Arab Gulf states toward more open opposition to Tehran. Trump’s five-day deadline for striking Iranian power plants expires in 48 hours — March 28 could prove to be another turning point in a war that has already claimed thousands of lives and upended the global energy economy.