Trump Says He Expects Iran's Reply Today, Adds He Will Wait and See

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[Financial News] As Donald Trump said he expects Iran's response to the ceasefire talks by "tonight," negotiations over a truce in the Middle East have reached a critical turning point. 
According to AFP on the 8th, local time, Trump told reporters outside the White House that he expected to receive "a letter by tonight" regarding the United States' proposal to end the war in the Middle East. He added, "We'll see what happens." 
Earlier, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the 7th of last month and held their first face-to-face talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on the 11th and 12th, but they failed to reach an agreement. 
Media reports have said that the United States is demanding, as part of a broader deal, a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment and a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. 
Since then, the standoff has continued through mediators. According to foreign media, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar who is mediating the talks between the United States and Iran, said there is a strong chance the two sides will reach an agreement. The foreign minister, who also serves in that role, was reported to have said a deal was likely a day before meeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Washington, D.C. Al Thani's remarks came hours before the United States carried out what it called a "self-defense strike" and before Trump said a deal "may not happen, but it could happen at any time." 
In this regard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on the morning of the 8th in Italy that he expected to receive Iran's response to the draft ceasefire agreement proposed by the United States "later today." Rubio said, "We are waiting for Iran's response. We will see what the response says." He added that he hoped it would be something that could lead to "a serious negotiation process." 
\r\nMeanwhile, the United States is demanding limits on Iran's uranium enrichment and a reduction in military activity across the Middle East. Iran, meanwhile, is calling for recognition of its right to develop nuclear technology and the lifting of economic sanctions. The issue of control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments, remains sharply contested.
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soup@fnnews.com Im Subin Reporter