U.S. President Donald Trump issued a severe ultimatum to Iran’s government on Tuesday, demanding that a definitive nuclear agreement be reached in the coming days to end the current armed conflict. Rising international tensions are keeping the entire Middle East and the global economy on edge.
“I’m saying 2 or 3 days. Maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday,” the president stated to the press while visiting construction of a ballroom being built at the White House. The president made clear that the timeframe is extremely limited. “The nuclear clock is ticking,” Trump later wrote on his Truth Social network.
According to the Republican leader, the United States was going to launch a new attack against the Islamic Republic on Tuesday itself. However, he postponed it at the request of several strategic partners from the Persian Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. These important regional allies urged him to allow more space for fragile diplomatic negotiations.
What is the U.S. Position Toward Iran?
The Republican president explained that Monday he was “1 hour away” from ordering a resumption of the strong military offensive against Iran. This drastic military action would have immediately ended the fragile ceasefire in place since last April. Trump repeatedly warned that the consequences for Iran would be totally catastrophic if they do not cooperate.
“We cannot allow them to obtain a nuclear weapon,” Trump declared to the various media outlets present. The leader warned that if Iran had a nuclear weapon, it would quickly destroy the State of Israel. Subsequently, they would go after countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the entire Middle East, causing “a nuclear holocaust.”
The Trump Administration demands that Iran completely halt uranium enrichment and abandon its long-range missile programs. Additionally, Washington insists on including unrestricted oil shipping in the region as part of the deal. The government asserts that the main objective of the pressure is not war.
What is the Current Status of Negotiations?
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran to end the war that began on February 28 have been stalled for weeks. Representatives from both countries held direct meetings recently in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, guided by Vice President J.D. Vance. However, those lengthy 21-hour sessions ended without any formal consensus.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly rejected all conditions imposed by the Trump Administration to dismantle its program. Recently, Tehran presented a counterproposal through different Pakistani international mediators. According to leaked reports, Iran would offer a partial freeze of its program and transfer uranium to Russia.
Trump announced Monday that he has ordered U.S. Armed Forces to be prepared to intervene quickly. They would launch a “large-scale attack” against Iran if all diplomatic negotiations definitively fail. Authorities reported that there is a significant concentration of enormous naval and air forces throughout the region.
