As US President Donald Trump’s deadline for peace negotiations approaches amid uncertainty, attention is focused on Washington’s next steps in the ongoing conflict in West Asia.As the US President cautioned Iran that its “entire civilization will die tonight” if it does not secure an acceptable agreement by Tuesday at 8 pm, serious concerns have emerged about the possibility of a nuclear strike.
Speculation intensified after US Vice President J D Vance cautioned that the United States has “tools in our toolkit that we so far haven’t decided to use” against Iran. Soon afterward, the White House released a clarification regarding Vance's comment, rejecting any suggestion that nuclear weapons would be used.
After Vance remarked that US forces possess tools they "have not yet chosen to use" in carrying out a sweeping ultimatum from Trump, the White House responded, "Absolutely nothing the Vice President said here suggests that, you complete fools."
Doubt surrounding the peace negotiations
With only a few hours left before Trump’s deadline, it remains uncertain whether the two sides will succeed in reaching peace talks. The Wall Street Journal reports that negotiators doubt Iran will comply with Trump’s demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before the deadline.
Meanwhile, negotiations are in progress in Pakistan as the country makes last-minute efforts to reach a peace proposal before the deadline expires. However, the talks are at risk if Saudi Arabia chooses to retaliate, since a defence pact between Riyadh and Islamabad would pull Pakistan directly into a conflict with Iran, Reuters reported, citing sources.
However, Iran's state-run Tehran Times has reported that diplomatic and indirect communication channels with the United States remain open.
