Mediterranean countries have put forward a proposal for a ceasefire, which is said to include a 45-day break in the war. But it does not seem to be getting traction with either side despite intensive negotiations.
Meanwhile, the war rages. At least 18 people were killed on Tuesday in airstrikes on Alborz province, according to state media. Alborz is immediately northwest of the capital Tehran, from where explosions were also reported. At midday, there were also reports of attacks on Kharg Island in the northern Persian Gulf, and a bridge outside the city of Qom.
The Israeli military, a US ally, has warned Iranians against traveling by train during the day "for security reasons." Iran is responding with counterattacks, including against a petrochemical plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
Want guarantees
Donald Trump says the mediators' proposal represents a "significant step" forward, but is not enough.
Iran's government also rejects the proposal and insists on a "definitive end to the war," according to state-run media.
According to sources in The New York Times, Iran is making sharp counter-demands: that the war be ended, that sanctions be lifted, that the opponents pay financial compensation for destruction in the country - as well as guarantees that there will be no new attacks or sanctions in the future.
Another request is reportedly for Israel to end its war against the Iran-allied Shia movement Hezbollah in Lebanon.
According to Iranian state media, Iran's proposal also means that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will be lifted and that shipping in and out of the Persian Gulf can resume. The proposal is stated to be that Iran will be allowed to control the strait and charge for passage in coordination with Oman on the other side of the Gulf.
"Nothing" left
Trump has demanded, among other things, that the strait, which is so important for oil trade, be opened unconditionally. He says that if Iran does not meet the US by Wednesday night, the military will cause "complete devastation" in Iran's civilian infrastructure.
"They have until tomorrow," Trump said at a press conference on Monday evening local time in Sweden.
"After tomorrow night they will have nothing left, no bridges, nothing."
During the following night, Israel continued to attack Iran from the air. Israel was alerted to a wave of Iranian attacks. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also reported that they have been attacked.
