Tehran yet to take decision on talks
WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, Apr 21: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to bomb Iran if they do not agree to a deal before the end of the two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, even as Pakistan urged the two sides to extend the truce and give diplomacy a chance.
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Trump had indicated that his team of negotiators could reach Islamabad by Monday night for talks, while the Iranian delegation was also expected to travel to Islamabad, but so far, there was no sign of any peace maker in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday evening said his country was still waiting for a formal response from Iran regarding its participation in the second round of talks with the US.
Underlining that the ceasefire ends at 4:50 am PST Wednesday, he said, “Decision from Iran to attend the talks before the end of the two-week ceasefire is critical.”
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying that no final decision has been made yet regarding participation in peace talks.
Trump has said that if the ceasefire ends without an agreement, he is prepared to resume attacking Iran. “I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he told CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’.
When asked if he would extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow time for the peace talks to reach a deal to end the war, Trump said, “Well, I don’t want to do that.”
“They have to negotiate. And, you know, the one thing I’ll say is this: Iran can get themselves on a very good footing. If they make a deal, they can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again,” he added.
The President said he thinks the US is “going to end up with a great deal” with Iran to end the weeks-long war.
“I think they have no choice,” Trump said when asked about his expectations from the second round of negotiations with Iran.
“We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders,” he said.
“We’ve taken out their leaders, frankly, which does complicate things in one way, but these leaders are much more rational,” Trump said. “It is regime change, no matter what you want to call it, which is not something I said I was going to do, but I’ve done it indirectly.”
The first round of the US-Iran talks held on 11 and 12 April failed to produce the desired results for the parties, leading to a flurry of activities by host Pakistan to cool tempers and raise hopes for another round of dialogue.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on Iran to release eight women facing prosecution ahead of potential Islamabad talks.
The president reposted a photo of six women and two teen girls on social media Tuesday morning that a conservative activist noted are facing prosecution by the Iranian government.
“I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm!” Trump posted. “Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”
Five of those in the photo flagged by Trump were arrested during widespread anti-government protests earlier this year, according to human rights groups.
State TV quoted the Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news agency denying Trump’s claims that the women are facing execution. It said some have already been released, while others face charges that – if upheld by the courts – would ultimately result in prison sentences rather than execution.
It didn’t name which women were allegedly released.
Human rights centers have reported that at least two of the women were facing charges that carry a death sentence. (Agencies)
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