Donald Trump says US-Iran peace talks could resume in Islamabad within the next two days, praising Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir for his role in mediating negotiations.
The US president made the comments on Tuesday to a New York Post reporter who had gone to Islamabad for the first round of ceasefire talks over the weekend.
“You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,” Trump said, adding Munir was doing a “great job” and was “fantastic.”
A Pakistani official said talks were expected to restart soon, though possibly later than Trump suggested, adding: “The game is on.”
The renewed push comes after 21 hours of talks over the weekend ended without agreement, with Vice President JD Vance walking out, saying Iran failed to make an “affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon.”
Following the breakdown, Trump ordered a US naval blockade targeting vessels linked to Iranian ports, escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 per cent of global energy supplies pass. US officials said no ships breached the blockade over a 24-hour period, while some tankers turned back.
Oil prices, which had surged above $100 a barrel amid the disruption, fell to about $95 after reports of potential renewed talks.
Key sticking points in negotiations include US demands for a 20-year halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, while Tehran has reportedly offered a shorter moratorium.
An Iranian official accused Washington of making excessive demands, saying: “Iran did not surrender at the battlefield, neither will it surrender behind the table.”
Diplomatic efforts are continuing, with regional officials in Islamabad and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif preparing a tour of key countries to support mediation efforts and proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Guardian.
