Trump warns Iran of destruction as peace talks stall over nuclear demands
Negotiations remain deadlocked despite a truce agreed in April, with Pakistan mediating and regional violence continuing in Lebanon and the UAE.
US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Iran on Sunday, stating that Tehran must move quickly towards a peace deal or face destruction. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that "there won't be anything left of them" if Iran fails to act fast, emphasising that "time is of the essence." The statement comes as negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled, despite a truce agreed upon on 8 April following joint US-Israeli attacks that began on 28 February.
Iranian media reported that the United States failed to make concrete concessions in its latest response to Iran’s proposed negotiation agenda. According to Iran’s Fars news agency, Washington’s five-point list included demands for Iran to operate only one nuclear site and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US. Fars also reported that Washington refused to release "even 25 percent" of Iran’s frozen assets abroad or pay reparations for war damage.
The Mehr news agency stated that the US was seeking concessions it failed to obtain during the war, leading to an impasse. Iran has demanded a lasting ceasefire in Lebanon before any broader peace agreement with Trump, who has expressed frustration with Tehran’s refusal to accept a deal on his terms. The conflict has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of global oil exports pass, sending energy prices climbing.
Regional violence continues to escalate despite the diplomatic standoff. Israeli military officials reported that Hezbollah fired around 200 projectiles at Israel over the weekend, violating a recently extended ceasefire. Lebanon’s health ministry confirmed that new Israeli strikes on the south killed five people, including two children. Additionally, a drone strike triggered a fire near a nuclear power station in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, though authorities reported no injuries or impact on radiation levels.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Iranian chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Tehran on Sunday to discuss mediation efforts. Ghalibaf argued that the US and Israeli war had destabilised the Middle East, stating that US presence creates insecurity rather than providing it. Earlier this week, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Iran during a summit, with Trump stating Xi assured him China was not preparing military aid to Iran.
