US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, declaring that the clock is ticking as diplomatic negotiations to end the ongoing war remain stalled. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged Iranian authorities to act immediately, threatening that nothing would be left of them if progress is not made quickly. The high-stakes message followed a direct phone conversation between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
Diplomatic efforts have reportedly reached a critical impasse.
According to Iranian state-affiliated media, negotiations hit a wall because Washington failed to offer any concrete concessions in response to Tehran`s latest peace proposals. This diplomatic gridlock comes just weeks after a ceasefire was implemented in early April, which Trump had uniquely leveraged by threatening that an entire civilization could face destruction without an agreement. Earlier this week, the US president remarked that the current truce was on massive life support, discarding Iran`s latest stipulations as completely unacceptable. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei countered that assessment, defending Tehran`s terms as both responsible and generous.
Tehran`s proposal demands an immediate cessation of hostilities across all fronts, which includes ongoing Israeli airstrikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The terms also seek an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, binding guarantees against future military actions, financial compensation for wartime destruction, and full recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Washington responded by issuing five strict counter-conditions.
These demands include a requirement for Iran to maintain only a single operational nuclear site and to transfer its entire inventory of highly enriched uranium directly to the United States. In a notable shift from his previous stance demanding a total termination of the program, Trump indicated on Friday that he might accept a 20-year suspension instead. This complex diplomatic maneuvering follows the massive aerial campaign launched by US and Israeli forces against Iran on February 28, a conflict that has disrupted global stability despite the heavily strained ceasefire.
Currently, Iran maintains firm control over the Strait of Hormuz, an essential maritime corridor handling roughly 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Tehran`s retaliatory closure of the waterway has driven global energy prices to historic highs, prompting the US to enforce its counter-blockade on Iranian ports to compel compliance. While Pakistan continues to serve as an active mediator between the two adversaries, both Washington and Tehran appear significantly far from reaching a resolution.
