US President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold talks on Monday with his top national security advisers regarding the ongoing war with Iran, according to US media reports. This development comes as negotiations between the two sides appear to have reached an impasse, with Tehran blaming Washington for the failure of recent talks held in Pakistan.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict between the United States and Iran has engulfed the Middle East and severely impacted the global economy. The first and only round of negotiations took place in Pakistan earlier this month, but Abbas Araghchi, Iran's top diplomat, accused Washington on Monday of causing the breakdown of those talks.
Upcoming Meeting at the White House
Barak Ravid, global affairs correspondent for Axios, reported that Trump is expected to convene a meeting with his top national security and foreign policy team on Monday to discuss the next steps in the conflict. The meeting will include key advisers and is aimed at determining the future course of action regarding Iran.
Backchannel Communications
In a sign that behind-the-scenes efforts are still ongoing, Iran's Fars news agency reported that Tehran has passed "written messages" to the Americans via Pakistan. These messages outline Iran's red lines, including issues related to its nuclear program and the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
According to ABC News, two unidentified US officials stated that Trump would meet with his key security advisers on Iran. They added that a new deal proposed by Tehran to resolve the conflict fell short of Washington's red lines. The proposed deal reportedly centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the US naval blockade of the vital waterway, with nuclear negotiations postponed for a later stage.
Iran's Stance on Negotiations
Fars news agency emphasized that the messages were not part of formal negotiations. Araghchi's visit to Islamabad had raised hopes for fresh negotiations with Washington, but those hopes were dashed when Trump canceled a planned trip by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Trump told Fox News that if Iran wanted talks, "they can come to us, or they can call us."
Proposed Phased Approach
Senior Iranian sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the proposal carried by Araghchi to Islamabad envisioned talks in stages. The first step would require ending the US-Israeli war on Iran and providing guarantees that Washington cannot restart it. Next, negotiators would address the US blockade and the fate of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran aims to reopen under its control. Only then would talks move to other issues, including the longstanding dispute over Iran's nuclear program, with Iran still seeking some form of US acknowledgment of its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
No Immediate Face-to-Face Meetings
In a sign that no face-to-face meetings are planned in the near future, streets in Pakistan's capital Islamabad have reopened after being locked down for a week in anticipation of talks that never materialized. The luxury hotel that had been cleared out to serve as a venue is now accepting reservations from the public again.
Pakistani officials stated that negotiations are still taking place remotely, but there are no plans to convene an in-person meeting until the sides are close enough to sign a memorandum. "The draft will be negotiated remotely till they reach some consensus," said a Pakistani source familiar with the negotiations.
This report includes information from AFP and Reuters.
