A certain form of communication continues between the United States and the US even after the failed negotiations in Islamabad, American media and Reuters reported on Monday, citing unnamed officials. US President Donald Trump expressed his belief that Iran wants to reach an agreement with the United States, writes TASR.
“There is ongoing contact and progress between the US and Iran to reach an agreement,” the American representative was quoted by the Reuters agency. According to CNN, the Trump administration is internally negotiating the details of a possible second meeting with Iranian officials before the current ceasefire expires next week.
Talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, led by Vice President JD Vance and mediated by Pakistan, ended without an agreement after 21 hours. Vance declined to elaborate, saying only that the key issue is Iran’s nuclear program and that the U.S. is demanding that Tehran agree to abandon its alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapon.
In a telephone conversation with his French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakhchi said that there had been progress on many issues during the negotiations with the US, but he accused the American negotiators of their “exaggerated demands and ever-changing attitude” prevented an agreement from being reached.
Arákčí and Barrot according to a statement from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the importance of continuing negotiations on a possible end to the war in the Middle East, triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February.
According to CNN, advisers to the US president are now considering possible dates and venues for further negotiations with Iran in the event that there is progress in the current communication in the coming days. The source of American television called these discussions within the Trump administration preliminary. “We have to be ready to organize something quickly if the situation were to develop in this direction,” said the same representative.
Even before the two sides finally agreed on a meeting in Islamabad, several other locations were considered – including Geneva, Vienna and Istanbul. In addition to Islamabad, Geneva is also reportedly on the table.
According to CNN, US government officials continue to believe that a diplomatic solution can be found with Iran. According to the station, there is also the possibility of extending the ceasefire, depending on the pace of negotiations. Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that he had received a call in the morning “correct persons” from Iran, which are trying to reach an agreement. According to his words, the president is convinced that Tehran will finally give up its nuclear ambitions.
