Live updates: Follow the latest news on US-Iran war
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was pausing attacks on Iran's energy plants for 10 days at the Iranian government's request, and said talks were progressing well.
On Monday, Mr Trump withdrew a weekend threat to destroy Iran's energy sites, because of “productive conversations”. He gave Tehran Iran five days to negotiate.
Then, in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, he said he was pushing that deadline further back to April 6 after a request from the Iranian government.
“Talks are ongoing and, despite erroneous statements to the contrary by the fake news media, and others, they are going very well."
His remarks followed a Cabinet meeting at the White House at which Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Washington had given Iran with a 15-point "action list" for a peace deal. He said the Pakistani government had presented the proposal and is acting as a mediator.
Mr Witkoff said the US wants to “convince Iran that this is the inflection point with no good alternatives for them, other than more death and destruction”.
He said that a deal would be “great” for Iran, and for “the entire region and the world at large”.
At the meeting, Mr Trump said Iran is desperate to make an agreement to end the war.
“Just so we set the record straight … they are begging to make a deal, not me,” Mr Trump said. “They’re lousy fighters but they’re great negotiators, and they are begging to work out a deal.”
In talks held before the war, Mr Witkoff said Iranian officials told him they had enough enriched uranium for 11 nuclear bombs and that they believed Tehran had an “inalienable right to enrich”.
“Finally, we heard the following statement: They would not give up diplomatically, but we could not win militarily. In other words, they were again miscalculating,” he said.
Iran has denied taking part in any talks with the US, despite a senior Pakistani official confirming that negotiations were continuing.
Tehran has also tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, using the shipping route for leverage.
Israel, meanwhile, has said it will press ahead with more strikes.
Mr Trump on Thursday added that Iran still had an opportunity to abandon its nuclear ambitions, but said that “in the meantime, we’ll continue our strikes without interruption”.
He has said Iran’s willingness to negotiate is evidence of the regime’s weakening position.
Mr Trump said Iran had given the US a goodwill “present” in the form of 10 oil tankers that crossed the Strait of Hormuz. He said he thought the vessels were Pakistani-flagged but did not say where they were headed.
Even as talks continue, the Trump administration is sending thousands more US troops to the region, underscoring the continued risk of escalation despite talk of a deal.
