Iran says the prerequisite for talks with the U.S. is to end the fighting and lift the blockade, while Trump says he is in no hurry to resolve the conflict and will consider a ceasefire red line while on the plane.

The situation remains tense after the Iran-U.S. ceasefire, with both sides increasingly divided over restarting negotiations. Iran has提出 multiple preconditions, insisting they will not participate in a new round of talks until these are met; Trump, on the other hand, says he is not in a rush to resolve the conflict with Iran and mentions a red line he will consider during a flight to China to end hostilities.

On Tuesday, May 12, Eastern Time, according to CCTV News, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bagheri explicitly stated that ending the hostilities and lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz are prerequisites for any negotiations with the U.S., and accused the U.S. of demanding Iran’s “total surrender” rather than genuine dialogue.

Also on Tuesday, citing U.S. media and reports from semi-official Iranian outlets, Iran’s government has conveyed through Pakistani mediators to the U.S. that it will not participate in the next round of negotiations until five trust-building preconditions are fulfilled. The reports mention that Iran believes the continued maritime blockade after the ceasefire has reinforced its view that “negotiating with the U.S. is unreliable.”

These tough statements make the prospects for negotiations even more uncertain. The window for restarting talks is thus at risk of further narrowing.

Iran Lists Five Preconditions, Calls Blockade a War Act

According to U.S. media citing semi-official Iranian sources, Iran’s five proposed preconditions include: ending all warfare on various fronts, especially in Lebanon; lifting sanctions on Iran; releasing frozen Iranian funds; compensating for war damages; and recognizing Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian media mentioned above note that informed sources say these conditions are set within “a framework to establish minimal trust for returning to dialogue,” and that no new negotiations can begin until these conditions are genuinely implemented.

CCTV News reports that Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bagheri also made a legal characterization regarding the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the responsibility for the blockade lies with the U.S., and under international law, maritime blockade constitutes a war act.

On nuclear issues, U.S. media report that Iranian MP and National Security Council spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei stated on social media that if Iran is attacked again, increasing uranium enrichment to 90% purity—the level needed for weapons-grade nuclear material—will be one of Iran’s options, and that the parliament will review this.

Trump: Preventing Iran from Having Nuclear Weapons “Is Only a Matter of Time”

According to CCTV News, on Tuesday, May 12, local time, Trump said that the conflict with Iran does not need to be resolved urgently, and claimed Iran is facing a cutoff of its income sources. He is confident he can prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, stating, “It’s only a matter of time.”

U.S. media report that when asked about the red line for ending hostilities with Iran before leaving the White House on Tuesday, Trump did not give a clear answer, only saying he would consider the issue during his long flight to Beijing. He also claimed that the U.S. has achieved a “decisive victory” militarily over Iran.

Regarding the U.S. domestic economy, U.S. media report that Trump explicitly stated that during negotiations with Iran, he “completely disregards” the financial situation of the American people, emphasizing that his only demand is that Iran not possess nuclear weapons—“this is the most important thing so far, regardless of stock market fluctuations.”

U.S. Defense Secretary: Ceasefire Agreement Still Valid, Trump’s Restart of Military Actions Against Iran Does Not Require Congress Authorization

According to CCTV News, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated on May 12 that despite recent tensions and clashes, the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement remains in effect. He also said that the U.S. has plans for various scenarios involving Iran, including escalation, withdrawal, and resource mobilization, but did not disclose specific next steps.

U.S. media report that during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, regarding congressional authorization for Iran-related military actions, Austin reiterated that President Trump can restart military operations against Iran without congressional approval. He said that if the president decides to resume military actions, the government believes, based on Article II of the Constitution, that all necessary authority is already in place, and there is no need to seek congressional authorization.

It was also reported that during the same hearing, U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Jules Hurst testified that U.S. spending on Iran-related conflicts has risen to $29 billion. Media pointed out that Austin had previously reported $25 billion in military costs for Iran in a congressional hearing last month, but informed U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments said the actual expenditure might have approached $50 billion.

UK Reinforces Presence in the Strait of Hormuz, Israel’s “Iron Dome” Appears in the UAE

According to CCTV News, the UK will support multinational escort operations in the Strait of Hormuz, with the UK Ministry of Defense stating that this deployment will include drones, Typhoon fighters, and the UK’s “Daring” destroyer.

Xinhua News Agency reports that UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace disclosed at a conference at Tel Aviv University that Israel has deployed the “Iron Dome” missile defense system and related personnel in the UAE. The U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also confirmed this, stating that the “Iron Dome” system helped the UAE successfully intercept Iranian missiles during recent conflicts.

U.S. media report that Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine testified before a Senate appropriations subcommittee that Iran still has the capability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz using numerous small boats and other means. He urged Iran to “think wisely about its next steps” and seize the opportunity to open the strait for navigation.

Iraq and Pakistan Allegedly Sign Agreements with Iran to Transport Energy

According to CCTV News, Iraq and Pakistan have respectively signed agreements with Iran to transport oil and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf region. Under these agreements, Iraq has secured the safe passage of two supertankers carrying approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil each through the Strait of Hormuz on May 10.

Additionally, according to a bilateral agreement between Pakistan and Iran, two Qatar LNG tankers are en route to Pakistan. CCTV mentions that sources say neither Iraq nor Pakistan has paid Iran or its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps directly for overflight or transit rights.

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