Lead

President Donald Trump has said the United States is in a "very, very strong" negotiating position in talks with Iran and expects to reach a "great deal," even as a US-brokered ceasefire faces an uncertain future. Speaking to CNBC, Trump said he believed Iran had "no choice" but to agree to terms, but also signalled that Washington was prepared to resume military action if a deal is not reached soon.

Coverage comparison

Trump's latest remarks, reported on Tuesday, come amid a flurry of diplomatic activity centred on Islamabad, where the first round of direct US-Iran talks was held over the weekend. A report from Dawn said the talks, which lasted nearly 20 hours, yielded progress on "most points" but failed to secure agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme. Trump, in a statement following the talks, said the only point that "really mattered" — Iran's nuclear ambitions — remained unresolved.

Despite that, Trump has expressed optimism about the prospects for a deal. According to Deutsche Welle, he told reporters on Thursday that there was "a very good chance" of reaching an agreement, adding that Iran had agreed to "give us back the nuclear dust" — a reference to its enriched uranium stockpile. The Jerusalem Post reported similar claims, with Trump saying Iran had "totally agreed" to never get a nuclear weapon and that it was willing to do things today "that they weren't willing to do two months ago."

Trump has also floated the possibility of travelling to Pakistan if a deal is signed. According to Dawn, he said "if a deal is signed in Islamabad, I may go", praising Pakistan's leadership for its role in facilitating the talks. He described the civil and military leadership as "extraordinary."

However, the coverage also highlights significant hurdles. BBC analysis points to a "total absence of trust" and "no discernible common ground" between the two sides, noting that Israel has "hugely escalated" its onslaught on Lebanon. The same analysis says Iran's regime has its own reasons to end the war, including massive damage and the need to regroup.

Key Claims

  • Trump said the US was in a "very, very strong" negotiating position and expected a "great deal," as reported by Dawn.
  • Trump said he did not want to extend the ceasefire with Iran, saying "I don't want to do that. We don't have that much time," as reported by Dawn.
  • The two-week truce was set to expire at 8pm Eastern on Tuesday, April 21, but Trump later said it would end Wednesday evening, per Dawn.
  • Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged the US and Iran to "consider extending the ceasefire and give dialogue and diplomacy a chance," according to Dawn.
  • A US delegation is expected in Islamabad amid anticipation of a second round of talks, as reported by Dawn.
  • Trump claimed Iran had agreed to give up its nuclear ambitions, with reports from the Jerusalem Post and Deutsche Welle.
  • US-Iran peace talks may happen over the weekend, as stated by Trump and reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Trump said the US and Iran were "very close" to signing a peace deal, as reported by Dawn.
  • Pakistan's civil and military leadership has engaged in "feverish diplomacy" to bring the sides back to the table, per Dawn.
  • Trump said if a deal was reached and signed in Islamabad, he might go there, as reported by Dawn and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Trump said talks yielded progress on most points but failed on Tehran's nuclear programme, and warned of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Dawn.
  • BBC analysis said both sides have strong reasons to halt the war, but the biggest obstacle is lack of trust and common ground.
  • BBC analysis said Iran's regime has reasons to end the war, including massive damage and need to regroup.
  • Trump said there was a "very good chance" of making a deal, per Deutsche Welle.
  • Pakistani mediators say backdoor diplomacy has achieved progress, per Deutsche Welle.
  • Trump said the US was in "deep negotiations" with Iran in Pakistan, adding "we win" regardless, as reported by Yonhap.
  • US and Iranian negotiators have been conducting negotiations for more than a dozen hours, per Yonhap.

Perspectives

US Administration (Donald Trump): Trump projects confidence, claiming Iran has agreed to almost everything, including giving up its nuclear programme, and that a deal is close. He also warns of military action if no deal is struck, and praises Pakistan's mediation role.

Pakistani Government: Pakistani officials, including Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, urge both sides to extend the ceasefire and continue dialogue, emphasising Pakistan's role in facilitating peace.

BBC Analysis: Offers a sceptical view, highlighting deep mistrust, lack of common ground, and Israel's escalation in Lebanon as major obstacles to a successful deal.