Trump Warns of Renewed Attacks on Iran Amid Ongoing Negotiations

Trump's Ultimatum on Iran

President of the United States, Donald Trump, indicated that military actions against Iran could resume if a deal is not finalized by Wednesday. When questioned by a journalist about the potential outcomes if an agreement is not reached by the end of the ceasefire next week, Trump remarked, "I’m uncertain. Perhaps I won’t extend it, but the blockade will persist. Unfortunately, we may have to resume bombings." However, he expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating, "I believe it’s going to happen," in reference to a potential agreement.

According to reports, the next discussions between the US and Iran are anticipated to occur on Monday. An Iranian official informed that new meetings between the two nations' negotiators are set to take place in Pakistan. Previous discussions held over the weekend in Pakistan yielded some progress, but ultimately concluded without a consensus. US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged, "The unfortunate news is that we have not reached an agreement." The Iranian Foreign Ministry attributed the lack of a framework to the US's "excessive demands."

The negotiations involved a US delegation led by Vance, which included Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, alongside an Iranian team headed by Parliament Speaker MB Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. These talks were initiated following a temporary ceasefire declared on Tuesday, which ended the conflict that began on February 28.

On Friday, Iran announced the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shared on social media that the vital waterway is now accessible to commercial vessels, coinciding with a 10-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon.

Araghchi noted that vessels will navigate through routes designated by the Islamic Republic, indicating Iran's intention to maintain some control over the channel. It remains unclear whether ships will incur tolls for passage. Following this announcement, President Trump expressed satisfaction with the reopening of Hormuz, stating on social media that the strait was 'fully open and ready for full passage.' However, he reiterated that the US blockade on Iranian vessels and ports would remain in effect until a deal is reached, particularly concerning Iran's nuclear program.