US President Donald Trump warns Iran to engage seriously in peace talks, as Tehran claims it has already responded to a US proposal conveyed via Pakistan.
TEHRAN: US President Donald Trump warned Iran to get serious about talks to end the Middle East war “before it is too late”. His warning came as Iranian state media claimed Tehran had already responded to Washington’s overture and was awaiting a reply.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff told a cabinet meeting there were “strong signs” Tehran was ready to negotiate. This is despite Iran’s cool public response to a 15-point American peace plan shown to it by Pakistani intermediaries.
“We will see where things lead, and if we can convince Iran that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them, other than more death and destruction,” Witkoff said.
The exact contents of the US plan are not public. The Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing an unnamed official, said Iran’s response was officially sent and it awaits Washington’s reply.
The Tasnim report said Iran’s reply called for an end to US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran-backed groups elsewhere. It also demanded war reparations and respect for Iran’s “sovereignty” over the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan confirmed it was facilitating “US-Iran indirect talks” by relaying messages. It stated the 15-point American plan was being “deliberated upon” by Tehran.
“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 warned on social media. He later said Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers passage through the Strait of Hormuz as a “present” to show seriousness.
Iran says it has blocked the vital shipping lane to all but “non-hostile” vessels. In response to a question, Trump also said the United States might take control of Iran’s oil.
“It’s an option,” he said, comparing it to the deal Washington made with Venezuela.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had denied on Wednesday that any negotiations had begun. He did concede messages were being exchanged through “friendly countries”.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said “brotherly countries” Turkey, Egypt and others were also supporting the mediation process.
Under near-daily bombardment, Iran was hit by a new wave of Israeli strikes. One strike allegedly “eliminated” the Revolutionary Guards’ naval commander, Alireza Tangsiri, and several senior officers.
Defence Minister Israel Katz blamed Tangsiri for throttling the vital Hormuz waterway. The United States also endorsed the strike.
Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, said the killing “makes the region safer”. He warned every Iranian serving in the Revolutionary Guards to return home to avoid the same fate.
Iranian media reported US-Israeli attacks in central and southern cities. Strikes were also reported in Mashhad and Birjand, towards the Afghan border in an area largely spared until now.
Off the coast from Bandar Abbas, one local resident on Qeshm island said he hoped the site would not be taken over by the military.
“The suffering of people, the poverty, and the political oppression have been getting worse every year,” said 42-year-old Sadeq via Telegram.
“I don’t think war is the solution to these conditions, but ending it won’t change much for us either. Our bigger war is with the Islamic republic,” he said.
Fresh violence flared in the Gulf with two killed by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile near Abu Dhabi. Drones were also fired at both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Iran has targeted Gulf nations it accuses of serving as launchpads for US strikes. Crude prices had fallen since last week, but the wavering messages on talks saw oil prices jump again.
