Kamal Ghorui
US president Donald Trump on Sunday said a US delegation will travel to Islamabad for fresh talks with Iran, days after an earlier round of negotiations failed in the Pakistani capital.“My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan. They will be there tomorrow evening, for negotiations,” he wrote on Truth Social.
At the same time, Trump issued a strong warning to Iran, saying the US had offered what he called a fair deal but would act if it was rejected. “We’re offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single power plant, and every single bridge, in Iran. No more Mr. nice guy!” he said.“They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the deal, it will be my honour to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran by other presidents for the last 47 years. It’s time for the Iran killing machine to end,” Trump added.
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US–Iran ceasefire talks held in Islamabad on April 11 ended without any agreement. The discussions, mediated by Pakistan, lasted around 21 hours but failed to produce a breakthrough. The talks reportedly collapsed mainly over disagreements on Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions. The US demanded that Iran reduce its uranium enrichment and give long-term assurances that it would not pursue nuclear weapons. Iran rejected these demands, maintaining that its nuclear programme was for civilian use and that such conditions violated its sovereign rights.There were also differences over sanctions relief. Iran sought the removal of sanctions and access to billions of dollars in frozen assets held abroad, which it said were needed for reconstruction after weeks of US airstrikes.Since the talks failed, tensions have risen again. US imposed a naval blockade on Iranian-linked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, limiting Iran’s oil exports. Iran, in response, has kept the Strait shut or partly closed, saying it will not reopen until the US lifts the blockade and ends what it called an illegal siege on its ports and energy routes.On Sunday, Trump also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz- A total violation of our ceasefire agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French ship, and a freighter from the United Kingdom.” Trump added that Iran’s move to shut the Strait was hurting its own economy. “Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait. They are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 million dollars a day!” he said, claiming the US was not affected.“The United States loses nothing. In fact, many ships are headed right now to the US, Texas, Louisiana and Alaska to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be “the tough guy,” he wrote.
