Trump Says Iran Must Initiate Ceasefire Before Peace Talks Proceed

President Donald Trump indicated he is willing to pursue peace talks with Iran, but a U.S. official told The Post that any negotiations must begin with a cease-fire initiated by Tehran. "That’s the basis for any type of negotiation; it starts with a cease-fire, and it has to start with Iran," the official said. The official added that internal divisions within Iran, between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and civilian leaders, are complicating the diplomatic effort. While President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have been working through diplomatic channels, the IRGC has continued military actions, including strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. "It’s incumbent on the Iranian leadership to get their house in order," the U.S. official said. The United States has responded to recent Iranian attacks on a U.S. base in Jordan with airstrikes targeting Iranian command centers, missile and drone facilities, and defense sites, according to Central Command. The official warned that continued Iranian attacks on shipping, U.S. bases, and Gulf allies would carry a “price.” Technical teams and international mediators are still engaged in talks aimed at a revised memorandum of understanding that would keep key elements of the earlier agreement, while the U.S. maintains that the Strait of Hormuz should remain toll-free. The IRGC, however, has issued statements through Iranian state media saying it will punish aggressors and warn that countries supporting the United States could face harsh responses. Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst that the United States would “hit them hard” in response to Iranian actions.