Trump Warns Iran ‘Clock Is Ticking’ As US-Iran Nuclear Talks Hit Fresh Deadlock

US President Donald Trump has issued a new warning to Iran, as talks over uranium stockpiles, sanctions relief and war compensation stay frozen after months of conflict across the Middle East. The latest comments deepen a diplomatic deadlock, with both Washington and Tehran now presenting firm preconditions for any fresh negotiations.

Trump sharpened his stance in a Truth Social post on 17 May, writing: "For Iran, the Clock is Ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won't be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!" The message followed new Iranian coverage of reported US demands for reviving talks.

US-Iran tensions and rival conditions for restarting negotiations

Iranian outlet Fars News Agency reported that the United States wants Iran to hand over 400 kilograms of enriched uranium and operate only one nuclear facility. Washington also expects Tehran to withdraw demands for war compensation, accept that most frozen assets will stay blocked, and halt the war on all fronts only after negotiations end.

Tehran, however, has set its own five conditions for returning to the table, according to Iranian media. Iran insists military operations across the region, especially in Lebanon, must stop. It wants sanctions lifted, overseas funds unfrozen, compensation for war damages, and acknowledgement of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

US-Iran tensions around Pezeshkian’s accusations and regional security

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the United States and Israel of trying to exploit the conflict to weaken Iran from within. Pezeshkian said their intention was to create insecurity by backing "terrorist groups", but argued that the attempt did not succeed because nearby states declined to cooperate with such plans.

Pezeshkian delivered these comments during a meeting in Iran with Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, held amid rising regional strains. According to Iranian media, Pezeshkian thanked Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq for refusing to let the US or Israel use their territory for attacks against Iran, stressing their role in limiting wider escalation.

US-Iran tensions over the ceasefire, Pakistan’s role and reported aircraft move

The current stand-off follows a ceasefire arranged earlier this year through Pakistani mediation, which reduced large-scale fighting but did not resolve the political dispute. Trump has repeatedly said that he accepted the truce mainly as a gesture to Pakistan and has ruled out further bombing of Iran, despite long-running tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Trump stated: "We did the ceasefire as a request from another nation. I would have really benefited from it, but we did it as a favour to Pakistan. They are terrific people, the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister." However, Pakistan’s role drew scrutiny after a CBS News report about Iranian aircraft movements.

CBS News reported that, shortly after Trump announced the ceasefire in early April, Iran shifted several military aircraft to Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi. Among the reported assets was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft, a surveillance version of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane, raising questions over military coordination and monitoring.

US-Iran tensions at the Strait of Hormuz and stalled diplomacy

The Strait of Hormuz has become central to the dispute, with Iran tightening control over shipping in the key route. The United States has responded by increasing pressure on Iranian ports and maritime trade through a broad naval blockade. Despite the earlier truce, diplomatic efforts to end the war have been paused since last week, as both governments rejected each other’s latest proposals and left negotiations stalled.