US President Donald Trump on Thursday (local time) warned Iran to “get serious soon” about the deal with Washington, adding that if it was too late there would be “no turning back”.
Trump made the remarks in a post on Truth Social, writing: “The Iranian negotiators are very different and strange. They are ‘begging’ us to make a deal, which they should do because they have been militarily wiped out, with zero chance of return, and yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal’. WRONG!!! They better get serious soon before it’s too late, because once that happens, there is NO GOING BACK BACK and it won’t be pretty!”
His remarks came a day after an Iranian official told PressTV that he rejected a 15-point ceasefire proposal sent by the United States through Pakistan, adding that the war would now end on Iran’s terms and timetable, not Trump’s. In addition, the Islamic Republic listed five conditions requiring Washington’s full approval, along with previous demands made during a second round of talks held in Geneva in February, days before the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
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The official said: “Iran will end the war when it chooses and when its own conditions are met,” adding that the Islamic Republic will continue to defend and deal “heavy blows” to the enemy until its demands are met.
Iran sets five conditions for the US
Tehran’s list of conditions included:
1. It called for a complete halt to what it describes as hostile aggression and targeted killing,
2. Establishing strong, enforceable safeguards to prevent conflict from being reimposed on the Islamic Republic.
3. The demands also include clear assurances and structured arrangements for compensation, including war damages and reparations.
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4. Complete cessation of hostilities on all fronts involving all resistance groups in the region.
5. In addition, it seeks the recognition of Iran’s sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz as an inherent legal right, which it considers crucial to ensure that the other side honors its commitments.
Is the US seeking a truce with Iran?
Earlier this week, Trump announced a five-day ceasefire with Iran after what he said were “very good and productive talks.” However, Iranian officials have denied negotiations with the US. Trump’s announcement came nearly three weeks after Washington and Tel Aviv launched Operation Epic Fury and Operation Rising Lion in late February to target Iran’s military and naval forces, killing several of its top leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
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The three-week war rocked global energy markets after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies. With the IRGC closing the straits and launching attacks on US military bases in the Middle East, the war that was limited to only Tehran and Israel has now somehow become global.
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Gulf countries are changing their stance on the Iran war
Gulf countries and Jordan issued a joint statement today condemning Iran’s war against their energy infrastructure and signaling their intention to act in “self-defense” to protect the sovereignty and stability of their countries and the region, CNBC reported.
A statement from Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, highlighted that the Gulf states had borne the brunt of the war, with the region’s reputation as a haven for trade and tourism now being curtailed.
Read also | Middle East conflict: Gulf countries condemn Iran for attacks on energy infrastructure
The joint statement by the Gulf states came days after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian informed the Gulf countries on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr that the Islamic Republic is not at war with them and called for the creation of an Islamic Assembly in the Middle East to ensure peace and stability in the region.
