Trump’s Red Lines Stall Iran Peace?

There seems to be no end to the US-Iran tensions in the near future, if what happened at the White House last Friday is any indication. While the US President is insisting on three conditions, Iran is repeatedly opposing them, suggesting that peace may remain out of reach for the next few months.

US President Donald Trump, who chaired a meeting at the White House for a decision on a possible deal with Iran, left the two-hour meeting without any conclusion, the Associated Press reported.

Ahead of holding the meeting, Trump in a post on social media said that extending the ceasefire would include Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key path for global fuel supply. Trump also sought Tehran’s commitment to never develop a nuclear bomb and allowing the US to remove its enriched uranium.

He said he was looking to make a “final determination” regarding Iran. Iran must agree they will never have a nuclear weapon or bomb. The Strait of Hormuz must be reopened for international navigation and all sea mines destroyed.

After the crucial Friday

However, Iran has been opposing these terms repeatedly. An official, on condition of anonymity confirmed to the AP, that Trump would only sign a deal that “satisfies his redlines” and curbs Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

After the Friday meeting, Trump’s Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the US is ready to restart attack on Iran if a deal cannot be reached. There seems to be distrust even as negotiators from both the countries continued to iron out the differences that were blocking an agreement.

Amidst the discussion over ceasefire, Iran’s main negotiator said Tehran has no trust in guarantees or words but action. The statement from Iran comes after Israel and the US had attacked Iran twice in the last one year while it was engaged in nuclear dialogue.

Iran officials pointed out that the US president is betraying diplomacy repeatedly, as expected by them. Trump is genuinely not interested in talks and this is visible in maintaining the naval blockade and excessive demands in the negotiations, they said.