U.S. media reports that Trump is "clenching his fist while preparing for negotiations"

Source: Xinhua News Agency

WASHINGTON, March 24 — According to a report from U.S. news website Axios on March 24, U.S. and Israeli officials said that U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing both for diplomatic negotiations with Iran and for a military escalation. Even if the U.S. negotiates with Iran, the U.S. and Israel plan to carry out another two to three weeks of military strikes against Iran.

Axios cited a statement by a White House official as saying that Trump that day instructed Defense Secretary Hegseth to maintain military pressure on Iran. Not long after, Hegseth told reporters at the White House, “We negotiate with bombs.” The report also cited a statement by one of Trump’s advisers, saying: “Trump reaches out to prepare for negotiations while clenching his fist, ready at any moment to slap you in the face.”

The report said that the White House has conveyed a message to Iran, “showing that Trump is serious about negotiations,” and mentioned that Vice President Vance may be involved in the talks. It said that Trump’s envoy, Whitkov, recommended Vance because of the importance of his position, and because Iranians do not view him as a hawk.

The report said that on the 23rd, Iran received from the United States a ceasefire agreement consisting of 15 points through a mediator. The United States hopes to use the agreement as a package deal for discussion, covering issues including ending hostilities, opening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions on Iran, and obtaining assurances regarding Iran’s nuclear activities, missile programs, and support for “proxies.”

The report said the United States hopes to hold face-to-face talks with Iran on the 26th in Pakistan. The report cited a White House official as saying, “Trump is optimistic about the negotiations and believes that talks in Pakistan are possible, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”

The report cited a person familiar with the matter as saying that Iranian officials have told Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey—countries trying to mediate the U.S.-Iran negotiations—that Iran has “been deceived by Trump twice,” and “we don’t want to be fooled again.” Iranian officials said that Trump’s decision to send additional forces and related military deployments has deepened their suspicions, and that the so-called negotiations are just a cover.

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