U.S. Advances 15-Point Peace Proposal to Iran Amid Ongoing Military Operations
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, 25 March 2026.
The U.S. delivered a 15-point peace proposal to Iran via Pakistan. While negotiations aim to stabilize global energy markets, military strikes under Operation Epic Fury will continue simultaneously.
Dual-Track Strategy: Diplomacy Meets Military Force
While diplomatic channels open, the U.S. and Israel are maintaining intense military pressure. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on March 24 that “Operation Epic Fury continues unabated” to achieve the military objectives set by the Pentagon, emphasizing that the U.S. will not negotiate through the media [1][2]. To bolster this posture, the Pentagon has ordered the deployment of soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East—with reports estimating the deployment size between 2,000 and 3,000 troops [2][6]. Additionally, the administration is reportedly planning to ask Congress for a war-related supplemental funding bill that could reach $200 billion [alert! ‘status of the funding bill remains unconfirmed by Congress’] [1][2].
Economic Fallout and Global Energy Markets
The simultaneous fighting and negotiating have sent shockwaves through global markets, particularly in the energy sector. The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that the ongoing war poses a “major, major threat” to the global economy, potentially exceeding the impact of the 1970s oil shocks and the Russia-Ukraine war [4][5]. With the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime chokepoint [GPT]—effectively blocked to Western shipping, Brent crude oil prices surged back over $104 per barrel on March 24 [5][6]. The crisis has forced Qatar to slash its liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity by 17%, raising the specter of force majeure declarations on long-term contracts that supply critical energy to Asia [5].