Trump may return to war if Iran stays out of talks: Axios

• US President Donald Trump has extended the ceasefire by three to five days to allow Iranian factions to agree on a negotiation strategy.
• Diplomatic efforts stalled after a severe rift emerged between Iran's civilian negotiators and the military.
• The US administration insists it will not keep the ceasefire open-ended if Tehran fails to participate in the Islamabad talks.

US President Donald Trump is giving Iran's warring political and military factions a brief window of three to five days to unify their stance and return to peace talks, warning that the recently extended ceasefire is not open-ended, according to a report by Axios.

The decision comes as US negotiators believe a comprehensive deal to end the war and address Iran's remaining nuclear program is still achievable, though they remain concerned about the current lack of a unified decision-making authority in Tehran.

Read more: Trump says Iran is “going to negotiate,” ahead of potential talks

Internal divisions in Tehran

US officials noted an "absolute fracture" between Iran's civilian negotiators and the generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who currently control the country.

The split became highly public last week when Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a move the IRGC subsequently refused to implement.

The political dysfunction is reportedly exacerbated by the silence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who is currently barely communicating with either faction.

US sources indicate this structural breakdown is partly a consequence of the March assassination of Ali Larijani, the former secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, whose successor has struggled to coordinate between the military, civilian leadership, and the supreme leader.

Read more: Iran rejects talks under pressure as Trump rules out ceasefire extension

Stalled diplomatic efforts

The internal Iranian conflict has caused significant frustration at the White House, disrupting planned negotiations in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Vice President JD Vance, who was scheduled to lead the second round of talks, was left waiting for hours at Joint Base Andrews.

Iranian officials initially signaled a green light for the talks to Pakistani mediators on Monday evening, only to reverse course by Tuesday morning, demanding the US lift its naval blockade before negotiations could proceed.

Following the delay, President Trump convened a meeting with his national security team, including Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, to determine the next steps.

Seeking a diplomatic exit

Despite having the option to authorize a massive strike on Iran's energy infrastructure, Trump ultimately opted to give diplomacy more time.

Associates close to the president note that he believes the US has achieved its military objectives and is actively seeking an exit from the increasingly unpopular war.

While extending the ceasefire cost the administration some diplomatic leverage, Trump maintains that the ongoing US naval blockade continues to exert severe economic pressure on Tehran.

However, US officials warned that if Pakistani mediators cannot secure Iranian participation within this short window, the military option will firmly return to the table.