Trump warns 'clock is ticking' for Iran as peace progress stalls

Donald Trump warned Iran that "the clock is ticking" as talks to end the war have stalled. He wrote on his Truth Social platform, "They better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" The message came as the president was due to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.

Iranian media reported the US had failed to make any concrete concessions in its response to Tehran's latest proposals to end the conflict, with the semi-official Mehr news agency reporting that a lack of compromise from Washington would lead to an "impasse in the negotiations". Trump's message echoed his threat that a "whole civilisation" would die unless Iran agreed to a deal to end the war, shortly before the ceasefire was announced in early April. He warned earlier this week that the truce was on "massive life support" after rejecting Tehran's demands, labeling them "totally unacceptable". Esmail Baghaei, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, insisted they were "responsible" and "generous".

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, their proposals included an immediate end to the war on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, and guarantees of no further attacks on Iran. They also reportedly included a demand for compensation for war damage and an emphasis on Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency said on Sunday that Washington had set five conditions in response to Tehran's proposal, including a demand that Iran keep only one nuclear site in operation and transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the US. Trump suggested on Friday that he would accept a 20-year suspension by Iran of its nuclear programme. Israeli and US forces began massive air strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran has continued to control the Strait of Hormuz, and the