Trump rules out Iran sanctions relief until war deal finalized

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will not authorize any easing of sanctions on Iran until a permanent agreement to end the war is finalized, insisting that Washington has offered Tehran no concessions during the ongoing diplomatic process. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump stated that relief measures would only follow a signed deal. "I'm not doing any relief until they sign an agreement," he said, adding that a completed pact could pave the way for rebuilding the sanctions-hit economy and improving living conditions for the Iranian people.

The president earlier on Wednesday acknowledged that negotiations are in their "final stages" but insisted he is "in no hurry" to complete them, citing concerns that Iranian leaders may not have the best interests of their population at heart. "I just wonder whether or not they have the good of the people," he said, pointing to public anger over economic hardship and questioning whether the leadership in Tehran genuinely seeks a resolution.

Pakistani mediation efforts

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Wednesday for his second visit to Iran in less than a week, holding talks with his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni at the Interior Ministry. Islamabad has played a central role in mediating efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28 when Washington and Tel Aviv launched surprise attacks on Iranian targets. The conflict prompted Tehran to retaliate with drone and missile strikes across the region and to shutter the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, though subsequent talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. Trump later extended the truce indefinitely while maintaining a stringent blockade on vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz — the strategic waterway that Tehran closed in response to the February 28 offensive. The blockade has disrupted global energy shipments despite the suspension of active hostilities.

Military pressure and alliance

Asked whether he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu share the same position on Iran, Trump responded affirmatively while speaking at Joint Base Andrews. "Yeah," he said, adding that the Israeli leader "will do whatever I want him to do" and describing him as a "very, very good man." The succinct exchange underscored the close coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv as negotiations approach their conclusion.

Addressing graduates at the Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut later on Wednesday, Trump reiterated claims that US forces have decimated Iran's military capabilities, presenting Tehran with a stark choice between further conflict and diplomatic resolution. "The only question is, do we go and finish it up, or are they going to be signing a document?" he said, adding that Washington would not permit Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons and "blow up the entire Middle East."