US President Donald Trump issued his most pointed warning yet to Iran on Sunday as nuclear peace talks ground to a halt, posting on Truth Social: “They better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” The message was posted as Trump was due to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Iranian state media reported that the United States had failed to make any concrete concessions in response to Tehran’s latest proposals. Iran’s Mehr news agency warned that the lack of US compromise was leading toward an “impasse in negotiations.”
The two sides remain far apart on fundamental demands. According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Tehran is seeking an immediate end to hostilities on all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade, binding guarantees against further attacks, war damage compensation, and recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz — which Iran continues to control.
Washington’s position, as reported by Iran’s Fars agency, requires Tehran to keep only a single nuclear facility operational and transfer its entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States. Trump did signal a potential softening on Friday, indicating he may accept a 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear programme rather than demanding its complete dismantlement — a shift from his earlier stance.
Pakistan, which has been serving as a back-channel mediator, has not succeeded in bridging the gap. A ceasefire has largely held since April 8, though sporadic exchanges of fire continue along contested fronts.
The strongly-worded Truth Social post is Trump’s starkest public ultimatum to Iran since the drone strike on the UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant last week escalated regional tensions. The standoff follows a weekend call between Trump and Netanyahu in which both leaders discussed further pressure on Tehran.
