US President Donald Trump issued a fresh warning to Iran, saying Tehran must agree to a ceasefire deal or prepare for what he described as “unprecedented problems.”
Speaking to The John Fredericks Show,
Trump said Washington had “done a great job” so far and remained confident it could resolve the Iran issue.
“Iran will negotiate,” he said, adding that failure to do so would bring severe consequences. Trump also stressed that a US-imposed naval blockade on Iranian ports would stay in place until Tehran agrees to a deal.
Backing up the warning, US Central Command confirmed that the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is operating in the Middle East to enforce the blockade on Iranian ports.
The move comes amid fragile and uncertain diplomatic efforts to halt the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran. Tehran has repeatedly said it will not negotiate “under the shadow of threats.”
Key Sticking Points In US-Iran Talks
Several major disputes continue to block progress toward an agreement:
Iran’s nuclear programme: Washington wants Iran to completely halt its nuclear activities, while Tehran insists any limits must be time-bound.
Uranium stockpile: Trump has said the US wants custody of Iran’s roughly 400kg of highly enriched uranium, a demand Iran has rejected outright.
Strait of Hormuz: Iran says restrictions on shipping through the vital waterway will remain until the US lifts its port blockade. Trump has countered that the blockade will stay until a deal is reached.
Frozen assets: Tehran is seeking sanctions relief and access to around $20 billion in frozen overseas assets.
War reparations: Iran is also demanding compensation estimated at $270 billion for damage caused by US and Israeli strikes.
Talks Under Pressure
US negotiators are expected to arrive in Islamabad for a second round of discussions aimed at extending a two-week ceasefire that expires on Wednesday.
However, the talks are taking place against a backdrop of rising military tension.
Just hours before the planned negotiations, the US Navy intercepted and seized the Touska, a 294-metre Iranian-flagged container ship in the Gulf of Oman.
Iran condemned the seizure as “piracy” and signalled uncertainty over whether it would continue participating in talks while the naval blockade remains in force.
The current diplomatic channel predates the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28.
While some negotiators had been involved in indirect talks before the conflict, one key Iranian figure linked to earlier negotiations has since been killed, further complicating efforts to revive diplomacy.
