The United States and Iran are preparing for a second round of peace talks in Pakistan, days after the first round concluded without any breakthrough on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which is a key sticking point for the White House.
During the peace talks, Washington asked Tehran to halt uranium enrichment for 20 years, but Iran announced this week that it would agree to only a five-year pause, The New York Times reported.
Amid fragile diplomatic efforts, US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on the future of the ongoing ceasefire, signalling serious consequences if an agreement is not reached. He said he is not considering extending the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, stressing that a more permanent agreement remains his preferred outcome.
Expressing optimism about the upcoming talks, Trump told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, "I think you’re going to be watching an amazing two days ahead," he said. "I really do."
China's Xi offers 4-point peace proposalChina's President Xi Jinping proposed a four-point roadmap for promoting lasting peace in the Middle East during a meeting this week with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chinese official news agency Xinhua reported. The proposal came days after US-Iran ceasefire talks derailed in Pakistan. In his proposal for the West Asia war, Xi called for upholding the principle of peaceful coexistence and urged adherence to the principle of national sovereignty. He also underscored the principles of coordinating development and security, and stressed the need to safeguard international rule-based order. Xi is likely to hold talks with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in a highly anticipated meeting in Beijing next month. |
