President Donald Trump convened a high-level meeting with his national security team at his Virginia golf club this weekend to chart the next steps in the conflict with Iran, with additional talks scheduled for early this week.
Following the weekend session, Trump issued a direct warning to Tehran via social media on Sunday, stating, “For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! President DJT.”
The administration is facing mounting pressure over the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, which has driven up global oil prices and fueled presidential frustration over the stalled pace of diplomatic negotiations. The White House has not yet commented on the matter.
Diplomatic exchanges are currently stalling. Trump recently rejected a 14-point peace proposal submitted by Tehran more than a week ago, labeling the plan “totally unacceptable.” On Monday, Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed it had submitted a response to the American objections through regional intermediaries.
“We received a set of corrective points and considerations from the Pakistani mediator,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday, according to the state news agency IRNA. “Our points of view were presented to the American side in return. Therefore, the process continues through Pakistan.” Baghaei did not disclose specific details of the new correspondence.
The Saturday strategy session included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The meeting took place immediately after Trump returned to Washington from a state visit to China, a key economic and political ally of Iran.
Administration officials noted that the White House had intentionally delayed decisions on Iran to assess the outcomes of Trump’s face-to-face talks with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping. While Trump has repeatedly stated a preference for a diplomatic resolution, officials familiar with the discussions indicate he is now seriously weighing a resumption of major combat operations to force Iran to the negotiating table.
In preparation for a potential escalation, the Pentagon has drafted a series of military options. These plans include targeted airstrikes focusing on Iran’s energy sector and core infrastructure.
As part of the weekend’s diplomatic maneuvering, Trump also spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, a conversation confirmed by both a U.S. official and a spokesperson for the prime minister.
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Meanwhile, Iranian leadership shows no signs of altering its stance. Iranian state media reported Sunday that Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, met in Tehran with top officials, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pakistan continues to serve as the primary diplomatic intermediary between Washington and Tehran.
During the meetings in Tehran, Iranian officials maintained that the United States military presence remains the primary source of regional instability.
According to the Tasnim news agency, Pezeshkian stated that the U.S. and Israel “have always tried to pit Islamic nations against one another through divisive projects and by fostering distrust,” while asserting that “Iran seeks sincere, stable relations based on good neighborliness with the region’s Islamic countries.”
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