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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Sunday that he is in no rush to reach a new agreement with Iran, arguing that his administration's maximum pressure strategy is suffocating Tehran's economy and has "bleeding" its operational capacity, according to statements to Fox News.
The official emphasized that "time is on Washington's side" and that, although communication channels remain open through Pakistan as a mediator, he does not feel an urgency to sit down at the negotiating table immediately.
Trump was categorical about the central goal of his policy toward Tehran: "Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances. They would use those weapons and endanger Israel, Europe, and the United States itself. We are doing a service to the world by preventing this."
The statements come a day after Trump canceled the trip of his envoys to Islamabad, demanding that Tehran contact him directly, a maneuver that had an immediate effect: just ten minutes after the cancellation, Iran presented a new proposal that Trump described as “much better” than the previous one.
The context of these statements is that of an active military conflict. Operation Epic Fury, jointly launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, 2026, destroyed more than 5,000 Iranian targets in less than 40 days, including nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. Since April 13, Washington has maintained a naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman with more than 12 ships, 100 aircraft, and 10,000 personnel, which according to estimates by Trump himself costs Iran about 500 million dollars daily.
The negotiations have been arduous. The first round in Islamabad, held from April 10 to 12, lasted 21 hours without an agreement. The second round, scheduled for April 21 and 22, was rejected by Iran, which demanded the lifting of the naval blockade. Trump extended the ceasefire on April 21 at Pakistan's request, although the White House spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, made it clear that it was Iran that "needs" it to recover.
The positions remain incompatible: the U.S. demands the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear program and a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, while Iran offers only a five-year pause and seeks 270 billion dollars in compensation for war damages.
In the same interview, Trump also criticized European allies and NATO for not providing support in containing the Iranian regime, despite the "trillions of dollars" that the U.S. invests in protecting Europe from Russia. Trump had warned days earlier that he would only negotiate with Iran if the agreement benefited the U.S.
From Tehran, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nasser Kanaani, responded this Sunday by questioning Washington's sincerity: “The words of peace from the United States contrast with its explicit military threats, undermining any possibility for genuine dialogue.”
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