US President on Sunday said that Washington’s representatives will be in Pakistan on Monday evening for further negotiations with Iran to end the six-week-long conflict. His remarks come as the two-week ceasefire deadline nears, with the first round of talks failing.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship and a Freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it.”
As the two-week ceasefire deadline nears its end, here are the latest updates from the US-Iran war:
1. In his Truth Social post, Trump also warned the Islamic Republic, asking it to accept the “very fair and reasonable deal” that the US is offering. He added, ” I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy, and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran by other Presidents for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END.”
2. The recently accused Iran of committing a “serious violation” of the ceasefire, but added that a peace deal is still possible. Trump’s remarks were shared by an ABC News reporter in a post on X on Sunday. He said, “It will happen. One way or another. The nice way or the hard way. It’s going to happen. You can quote me.” His remarks came after Tehran shut the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, a day after Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels.
3. Turkiye on Sunday said that it remained “optimistic” that a two-week ceasefire between the Islamic Republic and which expires on Wednesday, would be extended, allowing more time for talks between the two sides, AFP reported, citing Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who said, “No one wants to see a new war break out when the ceasefire expires next week. We hope … the parties will extend the ceasefire.”
4. Iran, on Sunday, doubled down on closing the as the ceasefire nears expiration. The Islamic Republic doubled down on its pledge to restrict ships passing via the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway, as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remains in place. This comes as mediators scrambled to extend the ceasefire. The Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for transporting roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil, has been effectively shut since the beginning of the conflict in late February.
“It is impossible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz while we cannot,” Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Bagher said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday.
5. According to an AP report, preparations are underway in Pakistan ahead of possible ceasefire talks. Authorities in have begun tightening security in Islamabad and deploying troops at roadside checkpoints. They also closed tourist sites and ordered major hotels to cancel bookings and keep facilities available. Islamabad’s streets are largely deserted, as residents stayed home to avoid road closures seen earlier this month during the first round of talks.
However, it remains to be seen what will happen on Monday as the two sides will come face-to-face once again.
