US Contacted Iran Via Italy Proposing Immediate Ceasefire — Tehran 'Categorically Rejected' Offer

According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the United States used Italy as a diplomatic back-channel to transmit a ceasefire proposal to Iran on March 1, proposing a halt 'today or tomorrow.' Tehran 'categorically rejected this idea.' Italian FM Tajani confirmed Iran had been given 'clear signals, but did not back down.' U.S. officials had reportedly envisioned a short four-to-five-day campaign to pressure Tehran back to negotiations. Iran's rejection signals that Tehran intends to continue retaliatory operations despite Khamenei's death and the disruption to its command structure.