(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES all through; ADDS picture)
By Tune Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Yonhap) — U.S. President Donald Trump has not set a agency deadline for Iran to submit a “unified” peace proposal, the White Home stated Wednesday, dismissing a report that he has given Iran three to 5 days to supply its coherent response.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the remarks throughout a press availability, stressing that the president is “generously” providing “a little bit of flexibility” to get a proposal from Iran, a rustic that she stated grapples with “a whole lot of inner division.”
“The president has not set a agency deadline to obtain an Iranian proposal, in contrast to a number of the reporting I’ve seen at the moment,” she stated. “Finally, the timeline will likely be dictated by the commander-in-chief.”
On the eve of the ceasefire deadline set for Wednesday (Washington time), Trump stated that on the request of Pakistan, he’ll prolong the ceasefire till Iran submits a unified proposal, and bilateral discussions are “concluded, by hook or by crook.” He known as the Tehran authorities “severely fractured.”
This picture, launched by EPA, exhibits U.S. President Donald Trump talking within the State Eating Room of the White Home in Washington on April 21, 2026. (Pool picture) (Yonhap)
Trump’s extension of the ceasefire was initially considered by some as an indefinite one, however Axios reported, citing three U.S. officers, that the president is giving Iran a brief window of a number of days to current its proposal to the US.
Leavitt took be aware of inner division in Iran that has made it troublesome for Tehran to place ahead an built-in proposal.
“There may be clearly a whole lot of inner division,” she stated. “This can be a battle between the pragmatists and the hard-liners in Iran proper now, and the president needs a unified response.”
Because the U.S. awaits an Iranian proposal, “Operation Financial Fury” in addition to a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels proceed, she identified, referring to the Trump administration’s marketing campaign to place financial stress on the Islamic Republic.
“We’re fully strangling their economic system by way of this blockade. They’re dropping US$500 million a day. The Kharg Island is totally full. They can not transfer oil out and in,” she stated, referring to Iran’s essential oil export hub.
“They can not even pay their very own folks on account of this financial leverage that President Trump has inflicted over them. So he is glad with that.”
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks to the media exterior the White Home in Washington on April 22, 2026, on this picture launched by EPA. (Yonhap)
Earlier within the day, Trump stated {that a} new spherical of peace talks with Iran is “potential” throughout the subsequent 36 to 72 hours.
The New York Put up reported that sources in Pakistan touted constructive mediation efforts with Tehran, renewing the potential for further negotiations throughout the subsequent 36 to 72 hours, and that Trump stated in a textual content message, “It is potential! President DJT.” DJT is brief for Trump’s full title.
On Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance put his journey to Pakistan for a second spherical of talks with Iran on maintain, as Iran didn’t reply to American calls for, in accordance with The New York Occasions. The U.S. delegation consists of Vance, Particular Envoy to the Center East Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Washington and Tehran held the primary spherical of negotiations within the Pakistani capital on April 11 and 12. However the talks ended and not using a deal as the 2 sides didn’t reconcile variations, together with over a U.S. demand for Iran to make an “affirmative” dedication to not search a nuclear weapon.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)
