"No Such Thing as a Limited Strike": Iran’s Vow of Total Retaliation

The diplomatic clock is ticking toward zero as Ali Larijani, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, prepares to deliver Tehran’s official response to the American nuclear ultimatum. Larijani is expected to arrive in Muscat, Oman, tomorrow to hand over a draft proposal that will determine whether the Friday summit in Geneva will proceed or if the region will descend into a wide-scale war. While the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to project a defiant front, claiming that "military force cannot exert pressure on us," the regime is simultaneously offering unprecedented economic concessions. Among the proposals is a plan to open Iran’s oil and gas sectors to direct American investment, a move clearly designed to appeal to President Trump’s business-centric approach to foreign policy.

The "Peaceful Use" Gamble

The core of the Iranian proposal centers on the definition of a "peaceful nuclear program." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has signaled that Tehran is willing to accept enhanced monitoring by the IAEA, potentially under a framework proposed by Director General Rafael Grossi. This plan would allow Iran to enrich uranium only to the levels required for medical and scientific purposes, while maintaining its "sovereign right" to a civilian program. However, this remains a significant distance from Trump’s "zero enrichment" demand. "We can accept understandings or an agreement only if they include the key elements, that is, ensuring the rights and national interests of Iran, both on the nuclear issue and on the issue of removing sanctions," a ministry spokesperson explained.

A Vow of Total War

While the diplomats talk, the Iranian military is preparing for the worst. The regime has flatly rejected the idea of a "limited strike," with spokesmen asserting that any act of aggression will be met with a "powerful" response across the entire region. This echoes the Houthi threats from Yemen and the activation of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Furthermore, as a sign of the mounting tension, the Indian government has joined several other nations in urging its 10,000 citizens to leave Iran immediately. With the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon already evacuating non-essential staff, the "Oman Proposal" represents the very last exit ramp on the highway to war. If Larijani’s document does not satisfy the White House by Tuesday night, the Geneva summit will be canceled, and the "alternatives" Witkoff spoke of will become a fiery reality.