US President Trump confirms Iran talks are at a standstill

US President Donald Trump Announces Pause in Planned Attack on Iran

In a statement released on Monday, US President Donald Trump announced that he has decided to pause an attack on Iran, citing “serious negotiations” with Gulf leaders. According to Trump, the decision was made after Tehran sent a new peace proposal to Washington through Pakistan.

The initial, temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran began on April 8, six weeks into the war. Since then, armed hostilities have largely subsided, but a durable peace agreement remains elusive. The two sides have exchanged multiple proposals in recent weeks amid a ceasefire that has mostly halted fighting.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran’s response to the previous US proposal had been conveyed to the American side through mediator Pakistan. Baghaei also mentioned that Iran’s demands include lifting sanctions and releasing assets frozen abroad.

Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Monday, stating that “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking” and warning that if they do not move quickly, there will be consequences. Later, he announced that he had instructed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and the US military to hold off on the planned attack.

However, Trump also stated that in the event an acceptable deal is not reached, the US military would be prepared to carry out a full-scale assault on Iran at a moment’s notice. Iranian demands include compensation for damage inflicted by US-Israeli attacks, an end to the ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and a halt to fighting on all fronts.

The specific proposals in Iran’s latest peace plan have not been made public. Washington has urged Tehran to dismantle its nuclear programme and lift a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, which carries a significant portion of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply. A major point of contention is Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, with the US demanding it be handed over to them.

Source: Al Jazeera