BAGHDAD, JUL 24: The Iraqi prime minister’s office has denied a New York Times report claiming that Iran rejected a US ceasefire proposal delivered to Tehran by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
In a statement, the prime minister’s media office said the allegations published by the newspaper on Thursday were “entirely unfounded” and had “no relation to reality.”
It called on media outlets to exercise accuracy, rely on official sources and refrain from circulating unverified information or claims attributed to anonymous sources.
Citing unnamed Iranian and Iraqi officials, the New York Times had reported that Iran had rejected a US ceasefire proposal carried to Tehran by al-Zaidi.
The publicatoin said the unsuccessful mediation effort came as US President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the war and target Iran’s critical infrastructure.
Al-Zaidi was in Tehran on Thursday after visiting the White House earlier this month, where he met Trump. The officials cited by the NYT did not disclose the details of the proposal.
Iranian officials reportedly told the NYT that it was the “only offer on the table,” but that Tehran was not interested in a temporary agreement that left the question of control over the Strait of Hormuz unresolved.
The US launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iranian military targets early Friday, marking the thirteenth night of active combat in the region as Trump vowed to use frozen Iranian assets to pay for any damage to shipping.
