US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that while talks to end the war are deadlocked, the clock is ticking, the BBC reports.
Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social that Iran must act quickly or there will be nothing left of it, and that time is of the essence. The US president’s statement came after Trump held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the 17th of May. Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the US had failed to yield to any of Tehran’s proposals to end the conflict.
The Mehr news agency reported that the lack of compromise on Washington’s part could lead to the talks reaching a deadlock.
Trump’s message echoed his threat that if Iran does not agree to end the war, it will be the end of the country’s entire civilization. A ceasefire was agreed upon shortly afterwards.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghay, responding to Trump’s remarks that Iran’s offer to end the war was unacceptable, said Tehran’s proposals were generous and responsible.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency,
Tehran’s offer included a condition for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts,
apparently referring to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, which it says are justified by the fight against the terrorist group Hezbollah. It also demanded an end to the US naval blockade and guarantees that the Americans would not carry out new attacks on Iran. Tehran has also demanded compensation for damage caused during the war and recognition of Iran’s sovereign authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Fars news agency reported on the 17th of May that Washington had set five conditions in response to Tehran’s demands. These include that Iran maintain only one nuclear facility and hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States. Trump said on the 15th of May that he would also accept Iran suspending its nuclear program for 20 years instead of completely abandoning it, marking a shift in stance.
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