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U.S. President Donald Trump has not imposed a strict deadline for Iran to deliver a "unified" peace proposal, as clarified by the White House. This statement dismisses earlier reports suggesting that Trump had allowed Iran a narrow timeframe of three to five days to respond with a coherent proposal.
According to Yonhap News Agency, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized during a press event that President Trump is showing "a bit of flexibility" to accommodate Iran, which she described as facing "a lot of internal division." She further remarked, "The president has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal, unlike some of the reporting I've seen today. Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the commander-in-chief."
On the eve of a previously set ceasefire deadline, Trump announced an extension at Pakistan's request, allowing more time for Iran to present a unified proposal. This decision was initially perce ived as indefinite. However, a report by Axios, citing U.S. officials, suggested that Iran might only have a few days to provide its proposal.
Leavitt noted the internal conflicts within Iran, which complicate its ability to form a cohesive response. "This is a battle between the pragmatists and the hard-liners in Iran right now, and the president wants a unified response," she added.
Meanwhile, "Operation Economic Fury," alongside a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, continues as part of the Trump administration's economic pressure strategy on Iran. Leavitt pointed out the impact of these measures, stating, "We are completely strangling their economy through this blockade. They are losing US$500 million a day. The Kharg Island is completely full. They can't move oil in and out."
As Trump faces a looming May 1 deadline to obtain congressional authorization for military actions, the ceasefire extension also serves to alleviate mounting pressures. Under t he 1973 War Powers Resolution, the president must cease unauthorized military use within 60 days unless Congress approves. The deadline for this approval is May 1, following Trump's notification to Congress on March 2.
The possibility of new peace talks with Iran in the coming 36 to 72 hours remains, with mediation efforts from Pakistan being highlighted by The New York Post. Trump confirmed this in a text message, stating, "It's possible! President DJT."
Vice President JD Vance's planned trip to Pakistan for a second round of talks with Iran has been postponed due to Iran's lack of response to U.S. demands, as reported by The New York Times. The U.S. delegation, comprising Vance, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, had participated in initial negotiations in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which ended without agreement on key issues, including Iran's commitment to abstain from nuclear weapon development.
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