12:23 PM EDT, 03/25/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US equity indexes rose in midday trading on Wednesday, albeit off session highs, as investors weighed the Trump administration's attempts to end the Iran war.

The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.7% to 21,924.9, with the S&P 500 up 0.5% to 6,590.1, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.6% higher to 46,377.2. All sectors except energy rose. Materials, utilities and consumer discretionary led the gainers.

On Wednesday, two Pakistani officials said that Iran had received a 15-point proposal from the US to pause the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East, according to a report by AP News.

Israel's Channel 2 reported that the US is seeking a month-long ceasefire to discuss the plan, which includes the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, ceasing support for proxy groups, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the choke point for global crude oil flows, according to The Star.

Both Pakistan and Turkey are being considered as possible venues for mediation to de-escalate the conflict, according to a Reuters report, citing a senior Iranian official.

Iran will not accept a ceasefire offer from the United States, CNBC reported, citing Iranian state media on Wednesday. "Iran does not accept a ceasefire," a source told FARS, according to a translation of the news site's Telegram page that reported the interview.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures were down 2.1% to $90.46 in midday trading, after dropping more than 5% earlier in the session.