Day 97 | Trump projects weekend breakthrough; as Iran denies 'tangible progress'
US President Donald Trump injected a wave of optimism into the diplomatic arena on Wednesday, telling reporters that back-channel negotiations with Iran are going "very well" and could culminate in a finalized agreement as early as this coming weekend.
"I hear the negotiation itself is going very well actually. It could happen... over the weekend." - US President Donald Trump said.
However, Trump’s optimistic outlook was immediately and sharply countered by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Speaking to Lebanon's Al Mayadeen TV, Araghchi confirmed that lines of communication with Washington remain open and messages are being actively exchanged regarding the necessity of halting hostilities, but firmly stated that "no tangible progress" has been achieved.
The Iranian diplomat stressed that Tehran’s return to the formal negotiating table remains strictly conditional upon ensuring the rights of the Iranian people, securing a permanent end to the war in Lebanon, and halting broader regional tensions.
Trump says won’t expand war with Iran unless troops killed
- Trump sets red line: no Iran strikes unless US troops killed
- Favors diplomacy over military action on Iran nuclear issue
- Officials say deterrence policy remains firmly in place
US President Donald Trump has established a conditional threshold for the potential resumption of hostilities with Tehran, informing senior aides that the United States will hold back from launching further military strikes unless American soldiers are killed.
The policy directive, reported by The Wall Street Journal citing US officials, outlines a deliberate effort by the administration to de-escalate regional tensions while maintaining a firm posture of deterrence.
According to administration insiders, Trump’s private communications with his inner circle indicate a desire to avoid re-entering a full-scale kinetic conflict in the Middle East.
By explicitly tying any future American military response to the loss of US service members' lives, the President is attempting to draw a definitive operational red line that Tehran cannot misinterpret.
This calculated restraint comes amid ongoing regional friction, signaling that Washington will tolerate certain geopolitical maneuvers but will react with immediate, overwhelming force if American personnel are directly harmed.
In tandem with his military red lines, Trump is reportedly focusing his administration's energy on a non-military resolution to Iran's atomic ambitions.
A US official told The Wall Street Journal that the President strongly prefers to secure the complete dismantlement of Iran's nuclear program through diplomatic negotiations rather than armed conflict.
US announces 'Israel'-Lebanon ceasefire
The U.S. Department of State has officially announced that 'Israel' and Lebanon have reached a formal agreement to implement a comprehensive ceasefire mediated entirely under American auspices.
US House votes to end Iran war in symbolic rebuke
The United States House of Representatives passed a legislative resolution on Wednesday directing the withdrawal of American military forces from the ongoing war in Iran.
The vote serves as a direct political rebuke against President Donald Trump, who initially launched the conflict in February.
Symbolic rebuke to Trump
The resolution succeeded in the chamber with bipartisan support, as four members of President Trump's own Republican Party crossed aisle lines to vote alongside Democrats.
Despite the political messaging, the measure is viewed as largely symbolic. Under U.S. legislative procedures, even if the resolution manages to clear the Senate, President Trump retains the executive authority to veto the measure, effectively neutralizing its ability to force a mandatory policy shift.
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Read more: Day 96 | Trump says Iran talks happening “continuously”, Rubio still hopeful
