Donald Trump warns clock is ticking on Iran talks
donald trump warned Iran on Sunday that the “clock is ticking” as talks to end the war stalled. He wrote on Truth Social that the sides should “get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them” and added, “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!”
The warning came as Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday. Iranian media said Washington had not made any concrete concessions to Tehran’s latest proposals, while Trump had already called Iran’s counter-offer “garbage.”
Trump's Sunday warning
Trump’s message was his latest public pressure point in negotiations tied to Iran’s nuclear programme and the ceasefire that was announced in early April to facilitate talks. He had earlier this week said the truce was on “massive life support” after rejecting Tehran’s demands and described those demands as “totally unacceptable.”
Those talks have stayed linked to concrete security terms. Iranian media reported that Tehran wanted an immediate end to the war on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, guarantees of no further attacks on Iran, compensation for war damage and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran and Washington terms
Esmail Baghaei described Iran’s proposals as “responsible” and “generous,” according to Iranian reporting. Tasnim news agency said Washington responded with five conditions, including a demand that Iran keep only one nuclear site operating and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US.
Trump also suggested on Friday that he would accept a 20-year suspension by Iran of its nuclear programme. That leaves the negotiations centered on the length and scope of any restrictions, not just whether the two sides keep talking.
Strait of Hormuz stakes
The friction runs beyond the nuclear file. Israeli and US forces began massive air strikes on Iran on 28 February, and the ceasefire meant to facilitate talks has largely held despite occasional exchanges of fire. Iran has continued to control the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
Iran said its Strait of Hormuz move was retaliation for US and Israeli attacks, while the US has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports to press Tehran to accept its terms. With Trump now saying the clock is ticking, the immediate issue is whether either side softens on uranium, the ports blockade or the Strait of Hormuz before the talks harden into an impasse.
