US President Donald Trump expressed high confidence on Monday that upcoming negotiations with Iran would yield a positive outcome even as Tehran warns it will not negotiate "under the shadow of threats."
During a radio interview, President Trump stated that negotiations would be finalized soon and "everybody's going to be happy." He emphasized his goal of ensuring Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon while offering the country a chance to "build back up" through a fair deal.
Despite this optimism the situation on the ground remains volatile. A Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire is set to expire this Wednesday at 8:00 PM ET.
The primary hurdle to the talks is a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, which Tehran labels a ceasefire violation. In response Iran briefly reopened then restricted the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for 20% of the world’s oil and gas.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Trump of using the blockade to force a "surrender," stating that Iran has prepared military options if the ceasefire lapses. However a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran is now "positively reviewing" its participation in the Islamabad talks following mediation efforts by Pakistan.
Pakistan continues to act as the primary bridge between the two nations. Reports indicate that Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir has urged President Trump to lift the blockade to facilitate the diplomatic process.
While US representatives are expected in Islamabad, the Iranian delegation's attendance remains unconfirmed pending a final decision from President Masoud Pezeshkian.
