Iran on Wednesday rejected a 15-point ceasefire proposal transmitted by Pakistan on behalf of the United States, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying on state television that his government has not engaged in talks to end the war and has no plans to do so. The defiant posture came as Iran launched new strikes across the region, including a fuel tank hit at Kuwait International Airport that sparked a fire.

The U.S. proposal reportedly included sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran's nuclear program, limits on ballistic missiles, and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil is shipped. Iran issued its own counter-demands through state media, though specifics were not released publicly.

The White House pushed back on Iran's account. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt insisted Wednesday that talks are ongoing and "productive," and President Trump warned that if diplomacy fails, Iran would be "hit harder than they have ever been hit before."

The military escalation has direct implications for East County. The Pentagon is sending at least 1,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days, along with approximately 5,000 additional Marines and thousands of sailors. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, located in San Diego, is home to thousands of active-duty Marines, and their families in East County communities like Santee, El Cajon, and Lakeside have been closely following the conflict since it began.

A new AP-NORC poll released Wednesday found that most Americans believe U.S. military action against Iran has gone too far, with growing concern over gas prices. Iran's continued attacks on regional energy infrastructure and its grip on the strait have kept oil markets under pressure — and San Diego County gas prices, already among the highest in California, could face further increases if the conflict continues to escalate.