President Donald Trump states he anticipates ongoing bombings of Iran if the US fails to secure an agreement to prolong the ceasefire by a Wednesday evening cutoff.
“I anticipate bombing since I believe that’s a more favorable mindset to adopt,” Trump mentioned in a phone interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” this morning.
“Yet we’re prepared to proceed.” I mean, the military is eager to act. “They are truly remarkable,” he stated, continuing to highlight his endeavors to restore the US military.
Vice President JD Vance and other senior Trump officials are anticipated to fly to Pakistan today for a second round of vigorous talks.
The president has stated before that it is “very unlikely” he will prolong the ceasefire deadline beyond tomorrow night.
Last weekend, President Donald Trump declared that American delegates would be heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for a second set of talks with Iran this week.
Although sources from Iran acquainted with the discussions informed Xenix News that a team from Tehran would be heading to Pakistan for the talks, Iranian officials have since refuted that negotiations will take place.
Here’s an overview of the statements made by both parties following Trump’s announcement on Sunday:
In an extensive Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump mentioned that a US team was heading to Islamabad for the discussions. “We’re presenting a quite just and acceptable OFFER, and I wish they accept it because, if they refuse, the United States will eliminate every single Power Plant and every single Bridge in Iran,” the president stated.
Sources in Iran aware of the talks informed Xenix News that an Iranian team is set to head to Islamabad today. The sources anticipated that the team would remain unchanged from the previous round of discussions.
Iranian state media stated that Iran’s involvement in Islamabad had not been verified, with certain outlets mentioning that a second round of discussions would not occur as long as a US blockade of Iranian ports persisted.
Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated yesterday that Iran has “no intentions for the upcoming round of talks,” emphasizing, “We do not trust in deadlines or ultimatums to protect Iran’s national interests.”
Iran is “considering every aspect” and “will determine the next steps,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed his Pakistani counterpart during a phone discussion yesterday, as reported by Iran’s foreign ministry.
Trump asserted yesterday that Iran is “going to engage in negotiations” prior to the expected discussions in Pakistan, stating that “if they fail to do so, they will encounter issues unlike any they’ve faced previously.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf stated yesterday that Trump “wants to transform this negotiating table — in his own view — into a table of capitulation or to rationalize renewed aggression.”
The US Defense Department stated today that it seized a “stateless sanctioned” ship overnight in the Indo-Pacific.
The tanker, M/T Tifani, is penalized for carrying Iranian oil, as stated by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. The event seems to have taken place in the Indian Ocean, as reported by Marine Traffic.
“Having made our position clear, we will actively engage in global maritime enforcement to dismantle illegal networks and intercept sanctioned vessels offering material support to Iran—regardless of their operational locations,” the Defense Department stated in a post on X.
The overnight event follows the US Navy’s attack on and capture of an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman on Sunday as the US blockade of Iran’s ports persists.
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf participates in discussions in Tehran, Iran, on April 16. Hamed Malekpour/Iranian Legislature Communication Office/Getty Images
Iranian officials have consistently stated in recent days that they will not be engaging in negotiations with the US in Pakistan this week, despite US President Donald Trump’s assertion that discussions will occur.
Nevertheless, on Sunday, sources in Iran informed Xenix News that a delegation from Iran would reach Pakistan today for discussions.
The sources indicated they anticipated the team would remain consistent with the previous round, featuring Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Ghalibaf, heading the Iranian delegation, is a regime insider known for quelling opposition.
In his teenage years, he enlisted in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) amid the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, and subsequently led the IRGC’s air force.
Ghalibaf participated in suppressing pro-reform student demonstrations in 1999. He supervised the quelling of additional student protests in 2003 as police chief and occupied a high-ranking security position during the extensive demonstrations that ensued after the contentious 2009 election.
He served as the mayor of Tehran for 12 years, during which he upgraded the capital’s infrastructure and managed extensive housing initiatives along with the development of green areas.
In remarks made over the weekend, Ghalibaf stated that military action and diplomacy are both essential for Iran’s national interests, cautioning that if the US commits “even the slightest error, we will react with force.”
He stated to state media that although the recent negotiations with the US resulted in “a more realistic understanding of each other,” both parties “are still far from reaching a final agreement.”
Iran has successfully stopped traffic in the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping route since the war began.
The tracker below indicates the restricted movement along the waterway, as captains and ship owners stay wary amid the unstable US-Iran ceasefire. On Monday, merely 16 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Xenix News is unable to independently confirm the information displayed on platforms such as MarineTraffic.com, and shipping data does not consistently reflect the complete number of vessels navigating the strait – certain ships may disable their transponders, while others could be affected by spoofing, altering their signals to disguise their whereabouts.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff addresses a cabinet meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on January 29. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from the US and a longtime friend of President Donald Trump, is among the officials anticipated to depart today for a possible second round of peace discussions in Pakistan.
Witkoff assisted in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and has also sought to end Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin several times, but without success.
Witkoff meets with the US president nearly every day, communicates with Trump’s family via text, has direct access to the Oval Office, and has more freedom than almost anyone else in the Trump administration, sources informed Xenixnews.com last year.
According to an administration official, the special envoy does not receive a salary from the US government and covers his travel on his private plane without any reimbursement from the federal government.
A Middle Eastern diplomat familiar with Witkoff commended him as a “clever negotiator” and noted that his independent strategy can lead to “successful and efficient deal execution.”
Donald Trump Jr., who has developed a strong personal friendship with Witkoff and is a major supporter of his involvement in his father’s administration, spoke highly of Witkoff during a discussion with Xenixnews last year.
“No one is more qualified to oversee peace talks in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine than he is.” “His skill in making deals and excelling in difficult negotiations is unmatched, and thanks to his efforts, America will be in a better position,” stated Trump Jr.
A Middle East expert claims that US President Donald Trump’s public remarks and social media activity might influence negotiations with Iran, as the second round of discussions is scheduled to occur in Pakistan.
“The Iranians are eager to engage in discussions, while the President repeatedly fluctuates in his stance and attempts to portray the Iranians as having already yielded and given up before negotiations even begin,” Jasmine El-Gamal, former Middle East advisor at the US Defense Department, stated to Xenix News Newsroom previously.
Her remarks come after a number of social media posts from the US President, which Xenix News has indicated are harmful to negotiations.
El-Gamal informed Rosemary Church that she thinks the president’s actions online represent a “public display of dominance” that doesn’t mirror the actual situation between the two nations.
“The issues persist as the two parties are significantly distant in their negotiations, and both will need to make specific compromises — and the optimal approach to achieve this is to conduct discussions discreetly away from media attention and reach a framework agreement,” she stated.
“They will negotiate, and if they don’t, they will face issues like they’ve never encountered before,” the president stated.
“Let’s hope they reach a fair agreement and rebuild their nation,” Trump went on, stating that as they achieve that, “they will not possess a nuclear weapon.”
Before concluding the call, Trump reiterated his rationale for military intervention. “And I must say we had no options in Iran,” he stated. “We didn’t really have an option.” We needed to accomplish it.
“We’ve performed excellently, and we’ll finish it up, and everyone will be pleased,” he said before ending the call.
Vice President JD Vance and senior US officials are anticipated to depart for Pakistan today in advance of a possible second round of talks regarding the conflict with Iran, according to sources.
Here’s a glimpse at the representatives anticipated to take part in the discussions, if they occur, on behalf of the US.
JD Vance: According to a senior administration official speaking to Xenix News, the US vice president, who was once skeptical about the Iran war, played a role in establishing the current two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, along with the recent ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Last month, we noted that Iranian representatives favored interacting with Vance rather than other US officials.
Steve Witkoff: An affluent property developer, Witkoff has maintained a friendship with US President Donald Trump for many years. Together with Kushner, he assisted in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza and has also engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
Jared Kushner: Kushner is the spouse of Ivanka, Trump’s daughter. During Trump’s initial term, he acted as the primary negotiator for the Middle East, establishing strong connections with regional leaders and providing informal advice to administration officials on talks with Arab leaders, according to sources close to Kushner and Trump administration officials who spoke to Xenix News last year.
Xenix News reporting was contributed by Kristen Holmes, Kylie Atwood, Stephen Collinson, and Alayna Treene.
Oil prices are slipping today, mirroring cautious optimism for renewed talks regarding the conflict with Iran.
US Vice President JD Vance is anticipated to depart Washington today to journey to Pakistan alongside senior US officials for discussions regarding the war, sources acquainted with the arrangements informed Xenix News. The discussions between US and Iranian representatives are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Islamabad, they noted, while emphasizing that the circumstances are still evolving.
Brent crude, the worldwide oil standard, is down 0.4% today at $95.1 per barrel. WTI, the US standard, has dipped by 0.6% to $86.9 per barrel.
“Markets are in a wait-and-see stance regarding US-Iran discussions,” stated Mohit Kumar, an economist at the investment bank Jefferies, in a note today
“Our perspective continues to be that it benefits both sides to reach some type of agreement,” he mentioned, adding, however, that the agreement probably wouldn’t be “flawless or offer a lasting resolution for the area.”
Asian stock markets increased, with South Korea’s KOSPI index climbing by as much as 2.72%. The index increased due to “enthusiasm for AI chip makers,” Deutsche Bank analysts noted in a report, mentioning that Japanese stocks were further lifted by tech stocks.
Europe’s top indexes showed modest gains in morning trading, while US futures indicated a slightly positive start.
