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The White House connected Wednesday clarified that the United States has not formally sought an hold of the ongoing ceasefire with Iran, adjacent arsenic diplomatic engagements betwixt the 2 sides continue.Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed media reports suggesting otherwise. "Bad reporting this greeting that we had formally requested an hold of the ceasefire. That is not existent astatine this moment," she said during a property briefing."We stay precise overmuch engaged successful these negotiations, successful these talks. You heard from the Vice President and the President this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing, and that's wherever we are close now," she added.Leavitt said the medication remains cautiously optimistic. "We consciousness bully astir the prospects of a deal. The President mentioned that successful his interrogation yesterday," she said, noting that Iran has been made alert of Washington’s position.
"It is successful the champion involvement of Iran to conscionable the President's demands. I deliberation he's made his reddish lines successful these negotiations precise wide to the different side," she said.Responding to a question connected the venue of the upcoming talks, Leavitt said the discussions would "very likely" instrumentality spot astatine the aforesaid determination arsenic the erstwhile round.
"They would precise apt beryllium successful the aforesaid spot arsenic they were past time," Leavitt said during a property briefing."They (Pakistan) are the lone mediator successful this negotiation, portion determination person been galore countries astir the satellite that privation to connection their help," she added.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is intimately monitoring fiscal flows linked to Iran and warned Chinese banks of imaginable action."I bash not person an update connected the tariffs, but I bash person an update connected sanctions.
Iran is, oregon utilized to be, the largest authorities sponsor of terrorism. China was purchasing much than 90% of their oil, which is astir 8% of China's vigor needs. We judge that with this blockade successful the straits, determination volition beryllium a intermission successful Chinese buying," Bessent said."I americium not going to place the banks, but we told them that if we tin beryllium that Iranian wealth is flowing done your accounts, past we are consenting to enforce secondary sanctions," helium added.This comes amid the fragile two-week ceasefire and rising tensions, Pakistan’s service main Asim Munir arrived successful Tehran successful a last-ditch effort to revive stalled negotiations betwixt Washington and Tehran.Munir, accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The sojourn follows the illness of the "Islamabad Talks," which failed to nutrient a breakthrough aft marathon discussions.Araghchi thanked Pakistan for its role, saying helium expressed "gratitude for Pakistan’s gracious hosting of dialogue," adding that it "reflects our heavy and large bilateral relationship." "Our committedness to promoting bid and stableness successful the portion remains beardown and shared," helium added.Diplomatic sources indicated the Pakistani delegation carried a caller connection from Washington outlining a imaginable model for a 2nd circular of high-level talks.Earlier, US President Donald Trump besides signalled that portion a ceasefire hold whitethorn not beryllium necessary, a negotiated colony remains the preferred outcome. "I deliberation you're going to beryllium watching an astonishing 2 days ahead. I truly do," Trump said successful an interrogation with ABC News.Direct talks held connected April 11–12 betwixt Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials lasted 21 hours but ended without agreement, mostly implicit cardinal "red line" issues, peculiarly Iran’s atomic programme.
