Trump signals confidence in Iran deal as ceasefire deadline looms in Islamabad
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed firm confidence that negotiations with Tehran will reach a successful conclusion, even as a critical ceasefire is set to expire on Tuesday evening. Despite Trump’s optimism, peace talks scheduled in Islamabad remain in limbo as neither delegation has arrived in the Pakistani capital.
A deepening diplomatic rift
The impasse intensified after Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the Trump administration of violating the current truce through a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Ghalibaf rejected further dialogue "under the shadow of threats," characterizing the U.S. strategy as an attempt to turn the negotiating table into a "table of capitulation."
Tehran has warned of "new tactical options" on the battlefield if the two-week, Pakistan-mediated armistice expires without a resolution. Meanwhile, sources indicate U.S. Vice President JD Vance is prepared to depart for the region, despite Iran’s claims that it has no current plans to participate due to "excessive" American demands.
Strategic maritime pressure
The conflict centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy artery. After briefly reopening the waterway, Iran reinstated shipping restrictions, citing U.S. failure to meet obligations. President Trump has dismissed reports of being under pressure to settle, labeling them "fake news," while maintaining that any final agreement must permanently block Iran’s access to nuclear weapons.
"They will negotiate, and if they don’t, they’re going to see problems like they’ve never seen before," Trump stated in a recent interview. The U.S. has warned it may target Iranian infrastructure if terms to end the conflict are not met, a move that has significantly unsettled global markets as the Tuesday deadline approaches.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
