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Trump escalates Iran pressure
US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Sunday that it had to move quickly toward a peace deal or face destruction, writing on his Truth Social platform, "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them."
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them”
The warning came as Washington’s war with Tehran and its allies continued to stall negotiations that had begun after US and Israeli forces launched major strikes on Iran beginning February 28.
France 24 reported that the war has led to an effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20 percent of global oil exports pass in peacetime, and that the conflict has drawn neighbours Israel and Lebanon into a deadly side conflict.
The BBC said Trump’s message was accompanied by a call that "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" as the president spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, the Times of Israel reported, citing Netanyahu's office.
Talks via Pakistan mediators
On Monday, Iran said it had responded to the latest US proposal and that exchanges with Washington were continuing through Pakistani mediators, with the BBC reporting that Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, "As we announced yesterday, our concerns were conveyed to the American side."
The BBC also said Iranian media earlier reported the US 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."
The Anadolu Ajansı report, citing Axios and two Israeli officials, said Israel asked the United States to participate in attacks against Iran but that Trump did not accept the proposal.
In the same BBC account, Trump’s earlier warning that truce was on "massive life support" followed his rejection of Tehran's demands, and the BBC said Esmail Baghaei insisted they were "responsible" and "generous."
What’s at stake next
The BBC said the war has largely been observed through a ceasefire meant to facilitate talks, while Iran continued to control the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing the vital waterway through which around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas travels.
“around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas travels”
France 24 reported that Iranian media said the United States had failed to make any concrete concessions to Tehran, with Fars saying Washington presented a five-point list that included a demand for Iran to keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States.
The BBC added that the Iranian asks reportedly included an immediate end to the war on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and guarantees of no further attacks on Iran.
In the Daily Express US account, Iran’s national security commission chairman Ebrahim Azizi confirmed that "reciprocal action" may be pursued in response to Ali Khamenei's death, as a bill authorizing "reciprocal action by military and security forces of the Islamic Republic" could receive approval within days.
