US President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Iran to engage in talks to end the ongoing Middle East conflict “before it is too late,” after Tehran publicly rejected US efforts to resolve the nearly four-week war.
Trump’s warning followed Israel’s announcement that it had killed the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ navy, whom it described as “directly responsible” for blocking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began.
Although Washington reportedly presented a peace plan to Tehran, Iran denied that any negotiations were taking place. Pakistan confirmed Thursday that it was facilitating “US-Iran indirect talks” by relaying messages and that a 15-point American plan was under consideration in Tehran.
“They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!” Trump wrote on social media, adding that Iran had been “militarily obliterated, with zero chance of a comeback.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied that negotiations were underway with the Trump administration, but acknowledged messages were being exchanged through “friendly countries,” saying, “We seek an end to the war on our own terms.”
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said “brotherly countries” including Turkey and Egypt were supporting the process, while the Gulf Cooperation Council expressed interest in joining any talks.
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Islamabad has been acting as a go-between due to its longstanding ties with both Iran and the United States and its regional connections.
Since February 28, Iran has been under near-daily bombardment. Thursday saw a new wave of Israeli strikes, including one that reportedly “blew up and eliminated” Alireza Tangsiri, the Guards’ naval commander, along with several senior officers.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tangsiri was responsible for throttling the vital Hormuz shipping lane, which Iran is allowing only “non-hostile” vessels to use, with Malaysia confirming safe passage for its tankers.
The Israeli military also conducted “wide-scale” strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure, with attacks reported in Isfahan, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, Tabriz, Mashhad, and Birjand, near the Afghan border.
Offshore from Bandar Abbas on Qeshm Island, a local resident told AFP via Telegram that he hoped the area would not come under military control.