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Iran received a 15-point proposal from the U.S. to reach a ceasefire in the war, two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The AP reported that the Trump administration offered the plan to Iran as the U.S. appears to seek an end to the war even while more troops head to the Middle East.
RELATED: Thousands of more US troops to deploy to Middle East: Report
A man walks along a street strewn with building debris at the site of an overnight Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs on March 25, 2026. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images)
This proposed plan was provided to Iran by intermediaries from the government of Pakistan, which has offered to host renewed negotiations between the U.S. and Tehran, a person briefed on the plan's contours but who was not authorized to speak publicly told the AP on Tuesday.
Here's the latest updates from Wednesday.
White House says more strikes to come if Iranian talks are unproductive
2:10 p.m. ET: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that "productive conversations" with Iran were ongoing but stressed that more strikes could come if they’re unsuccessful.
"If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily ... Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before," Leavitt said at a briefing Wednesday.
EPA announces emergency waiver for E15 fuel
1:45 p.m. ET: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it would temporarily allow widespread sales of a higher-ethanol gas blend in a move that may tamp down consumer prices that have soared since the Iran war began.
Lawmakers from across the aisle had called for Trump’s EPA to approve the blend known as E15 in the summer to try to lower prices at the pump. Past administrations have taken similar measures, and the biofuel is already allowed in the summer in some states.
The sale of E15 is typically limited during the summer months because it can contribute to harmful air pollution.
Egypt’s top diplomat stresses need for US-Iran talks soon
1:15 p.m. ET: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the Iranians and Americans have their own views but Egypt believes those "differences are bridgeable."
During a news briefing on Wednesday, Abdelatty said Egypt hopes negotiations can resume soon as "this could be the last opportunity to de-escalate and avoid a full-fledged escalation in the region."
‘This has gone too far': UN chief calls for US, Israel to end war against Iran
11:13 a.m. ET: In a strong statement Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres blasted the various factions of the ongoing Middle East conflict, saying the fighting "has broken past limits even leaders thought imaginable."
According to The Associated Press, he specifically called on the U.S. and Israel, whose joint strikes last month started the war against Iran, to end the fighting as "human suffering deepens, civilian casualties mount, and the global economic impact is increasingly devastating."
Guterres added, "My message to Iran is to stop attacking their neighbors."
He also announced the appointment of a personal envoy to the lead the world body’s efforts on the conflict and the recent peace efforts that are underway.
Speaker Mike Johnson says Iran should ‘take note’ of the troop buildup in the Middle East
11 a.m. ET: The Associated Press reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that the war in Iran is "wrapping up" and "the objectives have been met," even as he described U.S. troop buildup in the Middle East as a warning to Iran.
"The buildup of troops is very different than boots on the ground," said Johnson. "We don’t have boots on the ground. I don’t think that’s the intention, but I think Iran should watch that build up and they need to take note of that."
Republicans and Democrats prioritize lowering gas prices low
8 a.m. ET: Lowering gas prices is a goal uniting Republicans and Democrats.
In a new Associated Press-NORC poll, about two-thirds of Americans say keeping U.S. oil and gas prices from rising should be an "extremely" or "very" important foreign policy goal for the U.S.
However, they are just as likely to say it’s important to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, a juxtaposition that could be difficult for the White House to manage.
Meanwhile, about three-quarters of Republicans and about two-thirds of Democrats say it’s highly important to prevent U.S. oil and gas prices from going up.
The poll noted that slightly less than half of Americans, 45%, are "extremely" or "very" concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% in an AP-NORC poll conducted shortly after Trump won re-election with promises that he would improve the economy and lower the cost of living.
Most Americans say US military action in Iran has gone too far, according to AP-NORC poll
7:15 a.m. ET: A new AP-NORC poll reveals that most Americans believe recent military action against Iran has gone too far and many are worried about affording gasoline.
The poll indicates that while President Donald Trump’s approval rating is holding steady, the conflict could be turning into a major political liability for his Republican administration.
According to the poll, roughly 59% of Americans say U.S. military action has been excessive.
Meanwhile, 45% are "extremely" or "very" concerned about affording gas in the next few months, up from 30% shortly before Trump took office.
However, there is significant support for Trump’s objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
US and Iran talks could be held in Pakistan, IAEA head says
7:10 a.m. ET: According to The Associated Press, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said there might be talks between Iran and the United States soon in Pakistan.
"I think there could be talks this weekend in Islamabad, Pakistan," Rafael Mariano Grossi told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera without elaborating, the AP noted.
More troops to be sent to Middle East
Dig deeper:
The U.S. military is reportedly planning to send at least 1,000 more troops to the Middle East.
Soldiers from the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, will be deployed.
The 82nd Airborne is considered the Army’s emergency response force and can typically be deployed on short notice.
It’s the latest addition of American troops after U.S. officials last week said thousands of Marines aboard several Navy ships will be heading to the region.
While the Marine units are trained in missions that include supporting U.S. embassies, evacuating civilians and disaster relief, the soldiers of 82nd Airborne are trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure key territory and airfields.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by The Associated Press and previous reporting by LIVENOW from FOX. This story was reported from San Jose and Washington, D.C.