Trump says he has agreed to continue negotiations with Iran, with Qatar’s representative traveling to mediate in Iran

U.S. President Trump said in a social media post on the 10th that the United States has agreed to Iran’s proposal to continue negotiations, but the ceasefire has already ended. Meanwhile, Qatar’s negotiating representatives have traveled to Iran to continue their mediation.

Trump wrote: “Iran asks the U.S. to continue ‘negotiations,’ and the U.S. has agreed to this proposal, but has made it clear to the Iranian side that the ceasefire has ended.”

In response, Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, told the media, “At this stage, there is no new development on the operational front.” When asked whether the end of the ceasefire means that airstrikes will be resumed, Hawkins said he does not anticipate any subsequent actions.

On the 10th, CNN reported, citing a knowledgeable diplomat, that after coordinating with the United States, Qatar’s negotiating representatives had gone to Iran to meet with Iranian officials, aiming to ease tensions and create conditions for the U.S. and Iran to resume talks. In addition, a U.S. official said the U.S. military adopted a “strike-and-pause” strategy, both to avoid an escalation of the situation and to leave room for diplomatic efforts.

CBS, citing multiple sources, reported that the United States and Iran are still holding “active dialogue” through the mediator, Qatar. Iran’s foreign minister, Araghchi, has been in contact with Qatar’s prime minister and his team for days.

On the 8th, when Trump attended the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, he said he believes the memorandum of understanding reached between the U.S. and Iran “has been concluded,” that he does not want to deal with Iran any further, and that the U.S. military “will very likely strike Iran again tonight.” U.S. media reported on the 9th that, during an interview with reporters while on the way back to the United States after attending the NATO summit, he said the Iranian side called “not long ago” and that they were “very eager to reach an agreement.” (Xinhua News Agency)