Rising tensions in the Persian Gulf have reached a critical point. Donald Trump openly warns Iran of massive strikes if negotiations do not lead to the abandonment of its nuclear program. We have gathered key details about the rapidly changing situation.
President Trump made it clear: if dialogue with the U.S. fails, Iran will face "a multitude of bombs." The main condition for a peace agreement is the complete abandonment of nuclear weapons by the Islamic Republic.
However, Tehran firmly rejects any claims to suspend its nuclear program, viewing them as an infringement on its sovereignty.
American Delegation Rushes to Negotiations
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, along with Special Envoy Steve Whitcoff and Advisor Jared Kushner, is already heading to Islamabad. This was reported by President Donald Trump, citing The New York Post, confirming the start of negotiations with Iran.
According to him, the American delegation will arrive in the coming hours, and these meetings are extremely important to prevent further escalation of the conflict before the ceasefire ends. Trump emphasized that the U.S. is serious and ready for dialogue with Iranian leaders if real progress is visible.
Iran Wavers on the Need for Dialogue with Washington
Iran does not intend to engage in fruitless negotiations with the U.S.; it expects only concrete and tangible results from them. This was stated by Ebrahim Azizi, head of the National Security Committee of the Islamic Republic's parliament.
According to the Iranian agency Tasnim, Tehran is ready to continue dialogue with Washington only on the condition that its demands are met. The main sticking point for further negotiations remains the maritime blockade of the Strait of Hormuz imposed by the United States.
Washington Holds No Illusions
President Trump made it clear that he will not be rushed into a "bad deal," despite the limited time frame, as reported by Bloomberg. He stated, "It is extremely unlikely that I will extend it [the ceasefire]. It expires on Wednesday evening."
Trump warned that if the ceasefire is not extended without reaching new agreements, he is ready to give the order to resume military actions against Iran. "Then a lot of bombs will start exploding," he stated unequivocally in an interview with PBS News. He also added that the negotiators in Islamabad are required to guarantee that Iran will not possess nuclear weapons in the future.
Iranian Foreign Ministry: Aggression Will Be Met with Response
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei made several tough statements regarding the upcoming negotiations with the U.S. So far, Tehran has not made a final decision on conducting the second phase of dialogue with the U.S. to resolve the Middle Eastern situation.
He emphasized that Iran categorically rejects ultimatums or pressure from Donald Trump, especially when it comes to national interests. The country is prepared to respond decisively to any new manifestations of aggression.
Baghaei accused the U.S. of inconsistency in negotiations, noting that American officials constantly change their wording and spread false information in the media. This, in his opinion, intentionally complicates dialogue.
The diplomat also categorically denied any rumors about a possible transfer of enriched uranium from Iran to the U.S., stating that such a question has never been raised. Separately, Baghaei emphasized that issues related to Iran's missile program are a "red line," and Tehran will not discuss them under any circumstances.
Earlier, the Turkish agency Anadolu, citing Pakistani sources, reported that Iran still plans to participate in the second round of negotiations in Islamabad. This will happen despite the sharp escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Captures Iranian Cargo Ship
A serious incident occurred in the Gulf of Oman: the U.S. captured the Iranian cargo ship Touska. The vessel, which was traveling from China to Iran, did not respond to numerous warnings from the American destroyer USS Spruance.
As a result, the ship was disabled after breaching the engine room, and Marines captured it by descending on ropes. President Donald Trump stated that Touska is under American sanctions and attempted to breach the military blockade.
In response, Iran, according to Tasnim, announced an attack by its forces on American ships using drones, calling the capture piracy. However, the central command of the "Khatam al-Anbia" forces clarified that Iran refrained from a forceful response to avoid endangering the crew of the ship and their families.
Tehran promised to take retaliatory measures, emphasizing that U.S. actions grossly violate the existing ceasefire regime.
