Clock is ticking: Trump asks Iran to act fast or 'nothing will be left of them'
Donald Trump issued warning just hours after Iranian media revealed what it described as the US's core conditions for resuming negotiations.
US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran as negotiations remained deadlocked over uranium stockpiles, sanctions relief and war compensation following months of conflict across the Middle East.
"For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" Trump wrote on Sunday in a Truth Social.
Trump’s remarks came just hours after Iranian media revealed the US's core conditions for resuming negotiations. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the US wants Iran to surrender 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, keep only one nuclear facility active, drop demands for war compensation, accept that most frozen Iranian assets will remain blocked and end the war on all fronts only after negotiations are completed.
In response, Tehran laid out its own five preconditions for talks. According to Iranian media reports, Iran said it would only return to negotiations if military operations across the region -- particularly in Lebanon -- come to an end, sanctions on Iran are lifted and its frozen overseas assets are released. Iran also demanded compensation for war damages and recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
US, ISRAEL BACKED TERRORIST GROUPS, IRAN CLAIMS
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US and Israel of trying to destabilise Iran during the conflict. He alleged that their objective was to create insecurity inside the country by backing "terrorist groups".
Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting in Iran with Pakistan interior minister Mohsin Naqvi amid tensions across the region. According to Iranian media, Pezeshkian said the plan ultimately failed because neighbouring countries did not allow their territory to be used against Iran. The Iranian President also thanked Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq for refusing to let the US or Israel use their land for attacks targeting Iran, state-linked media reported.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a core flashpoint in the crisis. Iran has tightened control over shipping movement through the route, while the US has increased pressure on Iranian ports and maritime trade through naval blockade.
PAKISTAN-MEDIATED TRUCE FAILS TO END DEEP DIVISIONS
The tensions have continued despite a ceasefire reached earlier in April through Pakistani mediation. Although the truce stopped large-scale fighting between the sides, it failed to bring a long-term political agreement. The US President, on multiple occasions, made clear that he agreed to a ceasefire with Iran as a favour to Pakistan and ruled out any further bombing of the Persian Gulf nation, with which it has been at odds for several decades.
"We did the ceasefire as a request from another nation. I would have really benefited from it, but we did it as a favour to Pakistan. They are terrific people, the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister," Trump said.
However, Pakistan’s mediation role came under scrutiny after a CBS News report claimed Iran moved several aircraft to Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi shortly after Trump announced a ceasefire in early April. Among the aircraft reportedly stationed there was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, a surveillance variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
Talks on ending the war have been on hold since last week when Iran and the US rejected each other's most recent proposals.