WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has threatened consequences for Iran if its leaders do not act quickly as talks to bring the war to an end have stalled.
“For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!,” he wrote in a Truth Social post.
The comments came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the Israeli leader had spoken with Trump ahead of a limited security meeting Sunday evening. The discussion focused on the possibility of renewing the war with Iran and also touched on Trump’s recent trip to China, The Times of Israel reported.
The Associated Press reported on Sunday Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf met with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in an effort to facilitate further peace talks.
Last week, Iran pushed back after Trump rejected its latest peace proposal, calling it “totally unacceptable.” Iran’s foreign ministry said the offer was “reasonable” and “generous.”
Iranian state media reported the proposal called for an end to the war and the US naval blockade, which Tehran described as “maritime piracy.” It also included demands to release frozen Iranian assets, recognize Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz and pay compensation for war damage.
The proposal did not address Iran’s nuclear program, a central issue for the US.
Trump dismissed the offer and accused Iran of “playing games” in a social media post. He also warned, “They will be laughing no longer,” without providing details.
Trump has repeatedly used increasingly sharp language toward Iran in recent weeks, warning Tehran that time was running out for a deal.
His threats on civilian infrastructure, if he goes through with them, could consitute war crimes, according to legal experts.
Iranian media meanwhile reported the US had failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Tehran’s latest proposals to end the conflict.
A lack of compromise from Washington would lead to an “impasse in the negotiations”, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Trump’s message echoed his threat that a “whole civilization” 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, insisted they were “responsible” and “generous”.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, they 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 US 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 on Sunday 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 US.
Trump suggested on Friday that he would accept a 20-year suspension by Iran of its nuclear program — 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.
The US and Israel began massive air strikes on Iran on 28 February. The ceasefire meant to facilitate talks has largely been observed despite occasional exchanges of fire.
Iran has 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.
The move, which Iran has said is in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks, has sent oil prices soaring globally.
The US, 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.
Source: Saudi Gazette