US President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns over the failure of high-level peace negotiations with Iran, stating he is indifferent to whether Tehran returns to the bargaining table.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews late Sunday following his return from Florida, Trump struck a defiant tone after a grueling 21-hour diplomatic marathon in Islamabad, Pakistan, ended without a breakthrough.
"I do not care whether Iran returns to the negotiating table or not," Trump said. "If they don’t, I have no problem with it."
The President confirmed that the primary obstacle remains Iran's nuclear program. He claimed that during the Islamabad meetings, Iranian officials signaled a continued desire to develop nuclear weapons—a move he vowed to block.
"They still want it [the nuclear bomb], and they made that clear last night," Trump said. "Iran will not be allowed to build nuclear weapons."
He previously noted that direct talks failed because Tehran refused to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Conversely, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested the sides were "very close" to a deal, but blamed the collapse on "tough conditions" and shifting demands from Washington.
Amid the diplomatic tension, Trump praised the successful rescue of two American crew members whose F-15E warplane was shot down by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps earlier this month.
The pilot was rescued shortly after ejecting, while the weapons systems officer was recovered after evading capture in the mountains for two days. Although both sustained injuries during the incident, Trump stated they are now in "very good health."
Despite the diplomatic deadlock, Trump maintained that the current two-week ceasefire is holding. However, following the collapse of the Islamabad talks, the US has announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports to increase economic pressure, a move Iran’s navy has already dismissed as "ridiculous."
