Iran on Monday rejected a new ceasefire proposal, insisting it wants a permanent end to the war with guarantees against future attacks, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s deadline loomed to avoid a major escalation targeting key infrastructure.

“We won’t merely accept a ceasefire,” Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran’s mission in Cairo, told AP, adding Tehran would only agree to end the war with firm assurances. State-run IRNA said the response was conveyed via Pakistan, a key mediator.

Israel strikes Iran’s largest petrochemical facility

Trump’s ultimatum focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route. Ferdousi Pour said Iran and Oman were working on a mechanism to manage the chokepoint, whose disruption has driven oil prices higher.

The development came after Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field — shared with Qatar — and the killing of two Revolutionary Guard commanders. Israel said the strike targeted a key revenue source.

Amid rising tensions, Trump warned Iran of severe consequences if no deal is reached, while mediators from Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey proposed a 45-day ceasefire and reopening of the strait.

Explosions were reported in Tehran, with Israel claiming strikes on airports and senior officials. Iranian media confirmed multiple deaths across the country, including civilians.

Global oil prices surged, with Brent crude hitting $109. Since the war began on Feb. 28, over 1,900 people have been killed in Iran, alongside casualties reported in Lebanon, Israel and elsewhere in the region.