US awaits Iran’s final answer on peace as deadline revealed - Axios
Photo: The IRGC accused diplomats of weakness (Getty Images)
The US expects that on Wednesday, April 22, Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, will provide a response to the latest settlement proposal, reports Axios.
Why Trump extended the ceasefire
According to the portal, one of the reasons for Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire (despite the lack of progress) was the desire to wait for the supreme leader of Iran's response and for Iranian negotiators to receive clear directives. An Israeli source reported that Khamenei is expected to speak on Wednesday.
"The Iranian negotiators said they are waiting for a green light from the supreme leader," a regional source noted.
Internal rift in Iran
In recent days, Iran's leadership has been holding intense internal debates regarding the next steps in negotiations with the Trump administration:
- The civilian leadership (Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Araghchi) is in favor of continuing negotiations in order to extend the ceasefire and reach an agreement.
- The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), General Ahmad Vahidi, and his deputies refuse to make concessions and oppose negotiations as long as the naval blockade continues.
The US seizure of an Iranian cargo ship in the Arabian Sea has deepened the internal rift. IRGC commanders accused Iranian negotiators of weakness.
What's next?
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan will continue to push for a negotiated settlement. He expressed hope that both sides will adhere to the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive peace agreement during the second round of talks in Islamabad.
However, it is unclear when exactly this round will take place. A White House official confirmed that Vice President Vance's visit to Pakistan on Tuesday has been canceled.
"Any further updates on in-person meetings will be announced by the White House," the official said.
The first round of talks between the US and Iran, held in Islamabad, concluded on April 12 without any significant results.
As Vice President JD Vance explained, the meeting lasted over 21 hours, but the sides failed to reach an agreement because Tehran did not provide solid guarantees of abandoning the development of nuclear weapons.
On April 20, Donald Trump threatened an explosion of bombs if a deal was not signed, emphasizing that the US demands Iran give up its nuclear ambitions.
Tehran, for its part, stated that it does not recognize American ultimatums and will not hand over its enriched uranium to the US or any other country.
