Negotiations between the United States and Iran to end their conflict are wavering until the last minute. President Trump has set the ceasefire deadline as the evening of the 22nd (morning of the 23rd Korean time) and announced that negotiations will be held on the 21st. Iran, on the other hand, has yet to make its position clear on whether it will participate in the talks.
In an interview with Bloomberg on the 20th (local time), President Trump said regarding the ceasefire deadline that it would be "Wednesday (the 22nd) evening, Washington DC time." Previously, Reuters, citing Pakistani sources, had also reported that the ceasefire would end at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the 22nd (9 a.m. on the 23rd Korean time). Since the two-week ceasefire was declared on the 7th, there had been views that the deadline would be the 21st, and the U.S. had not clearly specified the end date.
President Trump added to the confusion by making inconsistent statements regarding the negotiations. In his Bloomberg interview, Trump explained that Vice President JD Vance would leave later that day for Pakistan to engage in talks with Iran, and that negotiations would begin on the 21st. Earlier, in an interview with the New York Post, he had said that Vice President Vance was already on his way to Islamabad and would arrive within a few hours — but in reality, Vance had not yet departed. Reuters also reported, citing sources, that Vice President Vance was still in the United States.
Fox News host Maria Bartiromo posted on X (formerly Twitter) that morning, saying "President Trump said 'an agreement will be signed tonight,'" but negotiations had not even begun yet. Some see this as an intentional strategy to rattle Iran before the talks, while others interpret it as a reflection of Trump's anxious state of mind.
On Truth Social, President Trump wrote, "I have seen fake news saying I am under pressure to make a deal. I am not under any pressure. Time is not my enemy." This is interpreted as his rebuttal to analyses suggesting that a prolonged war with Iran would be disadvantageous to Trump, who faces midterm elections in November. Axios commented that "President Trump is furious over criticism related to the Iran war."
That day, Trump said the possibility of extending the ceasefire was "very small" and that the U.S. military's counter-blockade would continue until an agreement is reached.
Regarding the content of the negotiations, Trump emphasized that it would be far better than the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) signed in 2015 under former President Barack Obama. That deal required Iran to transfer 11 tons of up to 20% enriched uranium to Russia and limited its enriched uranium stockpile to 300 kg at 3.67% enrichment level for 15 years. Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018. On this day, Trump stressed, "It was one of the worst agreements ever made regarding our national security," and "If the deal had not been broken, nuclear weapons would have been used not only against Israel but across the Middle East, including the U.S. military bases we hold dear."
Iran, on the other hand, has yet to confirm that it will come to the negotiating table. According to Tasnim News Agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar that evening, said, "The United States' contradictory position and threatening rhetoric toward Iran are fundamental obstacles to continuing the diplomatic process," adding, "Iran will decide how to proceed by considering all aspects of these issues." However, Reuters, citing a senior Iranian official, reported that Iran is positively considering participating in the negotiations.
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