Trump Demands Iran Surrender as Nuclear Talks Stall

President Donald Trump called on Iran to put up the white flag of surrender following the expiration of a 60-day ceasefire and a June memorandum of understanding. In an interview with Fox News, Trump confirmed the existence of a direct backchannel for peace talks with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), asserting that his primary goal is ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.

The IRGC has vehemently denied these claims. Spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi characterized Trump's assertions as delusions and fantasies, while foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei dismissed reports of secret meetings in Erbil, Iraq, as psychological operations. However, reports indicate that former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard used Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, as a mediator to reach IRGC Commander General Ahmad Vahidi.

Diplomatic progress remains stalled. Special Envoy Jared Kushner stated that while the administration is open to a fair deal, Tehran has shown no interest in giving up its ability to create nuclear weapons. This stalemate follows a cycle of escalation, including Iranian attacks on vessels near Oman and retaliatory strikes in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Trump has maintained that the U.S. exercises total control of the Strait of Hormuz, though he warned he would bomb Oman if the nation interfered with talks through parallel negotiations with Tehran. Meanwhile, Iran has conditioned the restoration of commercial transit through the waterway on the lifting of a U.S. maritime blockade and the removal of American military assets from the region.