J.D. Vance calls on Iranians to decide in their country’s best interests while efforts are made to reach a deal before the end of the ceremony.
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As officials talk of a “crack of progress” in the negotiations ahead of the imminent end of the Trump telegram (3:00am GMT), US Vice President Jay Di Vance, speaking from Budapest where he is, described a dilemma in which, according to him, the Iranians find themselves. He even spoke of “two paths” that Tehran has to choose.
“I think there are really two possible developments, and I’m simplifying things a little bit, but I think the first is for the Iranians to decide that they are going to become a normal country. They will no longer fund terrorism. They will become part of the global system of trade and exchange,” Vance said, outlining the first option.
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“The second option is for the Iranians not to sit at the negotiating table and continue to support terrorism, to terrorize their neighbors, not only Israel but of course their Arab neighbors. Then the economic situation in Iran will continue to be very, very bad. And, frankly, it will probably get worse,” the U.S. vice president said.
Donald Trump threatened earlier today, Good Tuesday, that if the ultimatum expires, the strikes on Iran will be so severe that “an entire civilization will die.”
‘Mark of progress’ in negotiations with Iran seen by officials
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A relative sign of progress in negotiations with Iran is seen by officials who spoke to Axios, hours before Donald Trump’s ultimatum expired.
In the last day, there has been progress in the negotiations between the US and Iran, according to a US official, an Israeli official and two other sources with knowledge of the talks.
But they stress to Axios that reaching a ceasefire agreement before Donald Trump’s 8 p.m. (East Coast time, 3 p.m. GMT) deadline still seems unlikely. The US president has threatened massive strikes on power plants and civilian infrastructure of such power that could wipe out Iranian civilization.
One US official said that thinking in the White House has shifted from “can we get there?” to “can we get there by 8pm?”, suggesting that talks have been accelerated with the aim of reaching an agreement – even a tentative one – by the deadline.
Iran says it will endure and puts citizens in chains
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From the statements by Iranian officials and the images that have been circulated throughout the day, it appears that the regime in Tehran does not “see” a deal in the coming hours and is preparing for the strike announced by Trump.
Mohammad Reza Aref, Iran’s first vice president, said Iran’s civilisation had overcome the “illusions” of its enemies for thousands of years and that Iran “will not be intimidated by Trump’s threats”.
“Our response to the enemy’s brutality is to remain firm and rely on the internal strength of the Iranian nation,” Aref said.
During the day, men, women and children, at the regime’s urging, formed human chains near power plants and bridges in an apparent bid to discourage U.S. forces from mass bombings.
