Washington, United States. President Donald Trump said Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to the two-month war, as Iran’s foreign minister arrived in Russia to seek support from President Vladimir Putin.
Talks stall as diplomatic efforts shift
Hopes of reviving peace efforts receded on Saturday when Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi traveled between mediators Pakistan and Oman on Sunday before flying to Russia, with the two sides still appearing far apart on issues including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and access through the Strait of Hormuz.
Market reaction and blocked shipping
Oil prices rose and U.S. stock futures fell in early Asia trade on Monday after U.S.-Iran peace talks stalled over the weekend, leaving Gulf shipping blocked.
Trump’s comments on negotiations and nuclear terms
“If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines,” Trump told “The Sunday Briefing” on Fox News.
“They know what has to be in the agreement. It’s very simple: They cannot have a nuclear weapon; otherwise, there’s no reason to meet,” Trump said.
Iran’s position on enrichment
Iran has long demanded Washington acknowledge its right to enrich uranium, which Tehran says it only seeks for peaceful purposes, but which Western powers say is aimed at building nuclear weapons.
Ceasefire holds but no agreement on ending war
Although a ceasefire has paused full-scale fighting in the conflict, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, no agreement has been reached on terms to end a war that has killed thousands, driven up oil prices, fueled inflation, and darkened the outlook for global growth.
Axios report on proposal via Pakistani mediators
Axios reported on Sunday that Iran gave the U.S. a new proposal through Pakistani mediators on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage. The U.S. State Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the report, which cited an unnamed U.S. official and two sources with knowledge of the matter.
Domestic pressure and leverage in the strait
With his approval ratings falling, Trump faces domestic pressure to end the war. Iran’s leaders, though weakened militarily, have leverage in negotiations through their ability to stop shipping in the strait, which normally carries a fifth of global oil shipments.
What do you think would be required for U.S.-Iran talks to resume?
