U.S. President, Donald Trump has warned that the clock is ticking for Iran as talks to bring the war to an end have stalled.
“They better get moving, fast or there won’t be anything left of them,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Time is of the essence!”
The message came as the president spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, the Times of Israel reported, citing Netanyahu’s office.
Yesterday, Iran said it had responded to the latest U.S. proposal and that exchanges with Washington were continuing through Pakistani mediators.
“As we announced yesterday, our concerns were conveyed to the American side,” the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson said at a media briefing, the AFP reported.
Iranian media earlier reported the U.S. had failed to make any concrete concessions to Tehran, with the semi-official Mehr news agency saying a lack of compromise would lead to an impasse in the negotiations.
Trump’s message echoed his threat that a whole civilisation would die unless Iran agreed to a deal to end the war, shortly before the ceasefire was announced in early April.
The president warned earlier this week that truce was on massive life support after rejecting Tehran’s demands, labelling them totally unacceptable. Esmail Baghaei, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, then insisted they were responsible and generous.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Iranian asks included an immediate end to the war on all fronts a reference to the continued Israeli attacks against Iran-supported Hezbollah in Lebanon a halt to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, and guarantees of no further attacks on Iran.
They also reportedly included a demand for compensation for war damage and an emphasis on Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency said that Washington had set five conditions in response to Tehran’s proposal.
They reportedly included a demand that Iran keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the U.S.
Trump suggested on Friday that he would accept a 20-year suspension by Iran of its nuclear programme – a major sticking point between the two countries in what appeared to be confirmation of a shift in position away from a demand for a total end to it.
Israeli and U.S. forces began massive air strikes on Iran on February 28. The ceasefire meant to facilitate talks has largely been observed despite occasional exchanges of fire.
Iran has also continued to control the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing the vital waterway through which around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas travels.
The move, which Iran has said is in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks, has sent oil prices soaring globally.
The U.S., for its part, has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports to exert pressure on Tehran to agree to its terms.
Pakistan has been playing the role of mediator between the US and Iran, but both sides still appear to be far apart.
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