Trump on Monday extended a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by five days. He is now pushing that deadline forward even further.
According to the president, this is happening at the "request of the Iranian government." He writes that he is "pausing the period for the destruction of energy facilities." The new deadline is Monday, April 6, at 8 p.m., US Eastern Time.
"Conversations are ongoing and despite false claims to the contrary from fake news media and others, they are going very well," Trump writes on the Truth Social platform.
Response to peace plan
Iran on Wednesday sent a response through mediators to the US's 15-point peace plan, a source told the state-controlled Iranian news agency Tasnim.
Iran reportedly rejects the proposal and is making several counter-demands. The country is demanding war reparations, guarantees that the war will not resume, and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran also wants a ceasefire to include all allied groups in the region that have been drawn into the war.
Trump has previously claimed that Iranian negotiators are “begging” the US for a deal. He also claimed that Iranian leaders dare not admit that they are negotiating with the US.
"They really want to make a deal, but they are afraid to admit it because they think they will be killed by their own people," he said, according to the BBC.
Iran denies
Iran has repeatedly denied that negotiations are taking place. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has admitted that messages have been exchanged with the US through intermediaries, but declined to call it negotiations.
At Thursday's cabinet meeting, Trump claimed that the war effort against Iran is exceeding expectations, writes AFP.
"We estimated it would take about four to six weeks to complete our mission. Twenty-six days in, we are extremely, really, way ahead of schedule," Trump said.
The US 15-point plan, according to previous media reports, will include a proposal for a month-long ceasefire during which the parties will discuss the handover of Iran's enriched uranium. It also includes demands for Iranian guarantees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and a ban on future Iranian uranium enrichment.
