Why Iran Rejects All Ceasefire Proposals

A report published by a Russian outlet highlights the underlying reasons behind Iran’s firm rejection of repeated ceasefire proposals, despite escalating pressure from Washington.

According to the report, the US administration has attempted to widen the scope of the conflict by drawing in NATO allies, dependent states, and countries from the Global South. However, most international actors have avoided direct involvement, distancing themselves from what is increasingly viewed as a risky and open-ended confrontation. The report characterises the current US approach as highly escalatory, involving attacks on civilian infrastructure, targeting high-level officials, and applying military pressure across multiple fronts, while failing to secure meaningful international backing.

A central factor behind Tehran’s refusal lies in its strategic posture. Iranian leadership has not yet deployed its full military capabilities, instead maintaining what the report describes as “hidden leverage” stored in deeply fortified underground facilities. These include extensive missile arsenals, drone fleets estimated in the tens of thousands, and advanced infrastructure built over decades beneath mountainous terrain. Even intelligence agencies are believed to lack precise coordinates of these sites, ensuring their survivability.

Military assessments cited in the report suggest that Iran has entered a new phase of warfare defined by long-term engagement, resource management, and precision strikes. Rather than exhausting its capabilities early, Tehran appears to be conserving its arsenal while adapting tactics for sustained conflict. Notably, Iranian officials have indicated that only a small fraction of their missile stockpile has been used so far, implying significant remaining capacity.

The report also underscores technical challenges faced by US and Israeli defence systems. Iranian missiles, some travelling at hypersonic speeds, are described as extremely difficult to intercept. In several instances, multiple interceptor missiles have reportedly failed to neutralise a single incoming projectile. Similarly, widely promoted defence systems have shown limited effectiveness against high-speed threats, raising concerns about long-term defensive sustainability.

On the strategic level, what was initially framed as a rapid military operation has evolved into a prolonged war of attrition. Despite repeated claims of progress, the conflict has not achieved decisive outcomes, and Iran continues to demonstrate operational resilience. The report concludes that Tehran’s refusal to accept a ceasefire is rooted in confidence that its core capabilities remain intact, combined with a calculated strategy to prolong the conflict under conditions it believes are ultimately more favourable.