Trump waits on Iran reply

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would wait “a couple of days” for Iran to respond to the latest U.S. peace proposal, extending a diplomatic process that both Washington and Tehran say is still under review. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it had received the U.S. position and was examining it. Trump, speaking as the talks continued, said negotiations were in their “final stages.” Israeli officials, meanwhile, said they were watching the contacts closely and preparing for “all scenarios.” ### What exactly did Trump say on Thursday? Trump said he was prepared to wait “a couple of days” for Tehran’s answer to the latest U.S. proposal, according to CBS News’ live coverage of the talks. He also described the negotiations as being in their “final stages,” a formulation echoed in other reports on Thursday. (cbsnews.com) Thursday’s remarks followed earlier warnings from Trump that the diplomatic window could close and that the United States could resume military action if no deal emerged. ABC News reported that Trump told U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduates on Wednesday that it would soon become clear whether Iran would sign a deal or whether the military would have to “finish” operations. (cbsnews.com) ### What has Iran said about the latest U.S. proposal? Iran said on Thursday that it was reviewing the latest U.S. position, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying the American side’s views had been received and were under examination, according to CNBC’s report citing Nour News. Other coverage said the proposal had been passed through Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator in the contacts. (abcnews.com) Bloomberg reported that Iranian media described the latest U.S. text as having “narrowed the gaps to some extent,” while adding that further progress would require Washington to step back from the threat of war. That account suggested movement, but not agreement, on the core terms under discussion. (cnbc.com) ### Why is Pakistan involved in the talks? Pakistan has been serving as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, according to multiple reports on the current round of diplomacy. The latest U.S. proposal was described by several outlets as having been delivered to Iran through Pakistani channels. (bloomberg.com) May 21 reporting did not show either side announcing direct public negotiations between Trump administration officials and Iranian leaders. Instead, the process remained mediated, with public comments from both sides signaling that messages were still being exchanged rather than a final agreement being presented. That is an inference based on the reported role of Pakistan and the absence of any announced direct session. (cnbc.com) ### What is Israel doing while Washington waits? An Israeli military official told ABC News on Wednesday that Israel was “monitoring closely the talks between the U.S. and Iran” and was “prepared for all scenarios.” The official said the Israeli military was in constant contact with U.S. counterparts as the negotiations continued. (thehindu.com) Separate reporting has underscored how closely Israel’s military position is tied to U.S. support. The Times of Israel cited a report saying the United States used more advanced interceptors in defending Israel from Iranian missiles than Israel itself did, and quoted a U.S. official as saying Israel was not capable of fighting and winning wars on its own. (abc7.com) ### What happens next? The next step is Iran’s formal reply to the latest U.S. proposal, which Trump said he expected within “a couple of days.” Pakistan is expected to remain the channel for messages if the current format holds. Israel has said it will keep monitoring the contacts while staying ready for military contingencies. (cbsnews.com) (timesofisrael.com)