Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday to "get serious" about a deal to end nearly four weeks of fighting, after its foreign minister said Tehran was reviewing the U.S. proposal but that there were no talks on winding down the war.
Trump's comments came as the economic and humanitarian toll of the conflict mounted, with fuel shortages spreading worldwide, sending companies and countries scrambling to contain the fallout.
"Indirect talks" between the U.S. and Iran are taking place through messages relayed by Pakistan, with other states including Turkey and Egypt also supporting mediation efforts, Pakistan's foreign minister said.
But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said this did not amount to negotiation. "Messages being conveyed through our friendly countries and us responding by stating our positions or issuing the necessary warnings is not called negotiation or dialogue," Araqchi said in comments broadcast late on Wednesday.
"At present, our policy is to continue resistance and defend the country, and we have no intention of negotiating," he added.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday that Iran had been "militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback", and was "begging" for a deal.
Calling Iranian negotiators "very different and 'strange'", he added: "They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won't be pretty."
Trump has not identified who the U.S. is negotiating with in Iran, with many high-ranking officials among the thousands of people killed across the Middle East since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran has since launched strikes against Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states.
Though Araqchi's comments suggested some willingness by Tehran to negotiate an end to the war if Iranian demands were met, any such talks would likely prove very difficult given the positions laid out by both sides.
A 15-point U.S. proposal to end the conflict includes demands ranging from dismantling Iran's nuclear programme and curbing its missiles to effectively handing over control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources and reports.
Iran has hardened its stance since the war began, demanding guarantees against future military action, compensation for losses, and formal control of the Strait, Iranian sources say. It also told intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire deal, regional sources said.
An Iranian embassy official in Islamabad said talks in Islamabad were still on the table and Pakistan was the preferred venue for Tehran.
A Western diplomat said the U.S. had taken a "maximalist" position and there were doubts about whether Washington was genuinely seeking to end the war or instead buying time to calm markets as it prepares for a potential ground operation.
Trump's comments came as the economic and humanitarian toll of the conflict mounted, with fuel shortages spreading worldwide, sending companies and countries scrambling to contain the fallout.
"Indirect talks" between the U.S. and Iran are taking place through messages relayed by Pakistan, with other states including Turkey and Egypt also supporting mediation efforts, Pakistan's foreign minister said.
But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said this did not amount to negotiation. "Messages being conveyed through our friendly countries and us responding by stating our positions or issuing the necessary warnings is not called negotiation or dialogue," Araqchi said in comments broadcast late on Wednesday.
"At present, our policy is to continue resistance and defend the country, and we have no intention of negotiating," he added.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday that Iran had been "militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback", and was "begging" for a deal.
Calling Iranian negotiators "very different and 'strange'", he added: "They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won't be pretty."
Trump has not identified who the U.S. is negotiating with in Iran, with many high-ranking officials among the thousands of people killed across the Middle East since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran has since launched strikes against Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states.
Though Araqchi's comments suggested some willingness by Tehran to negotiate an end to the war if Iranian demands were met, any such talks would likely prove very difficult given the positions laid out by both sides.
A 15-point U.S. proposal to end the conflict includes demands ranging from dismantling Iran's nuclear programme and curbing its missiles to effectively handing over control of the Strait of Hormuz, according to sources and reports.
Iran has hardened its stance since the war began, demanding guarantees against future military action, compensation for losses, and formal control of the Strait, Iranian sources say. It also told intermediaries that Lebanon must be included in any ceasefire deal, regional sources said.
An Iranian embassy official in Islamabad said talks in Islamabad were still on the table and Pakistan was the preferred venue for Tehran.
A Western diplomat said the U.S. had taken a "maximalist" position and there were doubts about whether Washington was genuinely seeking to end the war or instead buying time to calm markets as it prepares for a potential ground operation.
