Trump says Iran 'begging' for deal, warns to get serious soon

Indirect talks between the United States and Iran were taking place through messages relayed by Pakistan, Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Thursday.

In a post on X, Dar said there had been “unnecessary speculation” in the media about efforts to end the conflict in the Middle East.

He said the United States had shared 15 points that Iran was considering.

Dar added that Turkey and Egypt were also supporting the initiative.

Pakistan remained committed to promoting peace and was continuing efforts to support regional stability, he said.

US President Donald Trump said NATO countries have done “absolutely nothing” to support the war against Iran, describing Iran as a “lunatic nation, now militarily decimated,” in a post on Truth Social.

“NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help,” Trump said, adding that the United States “needs nothing from NATO.”

Trump has repeatedly criticized the alliance during the conflict, accusing members of failing to support US-led efforts in the region.

Israel’s defense minister said on Thursday that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy commander Alireza Tangsiri was killed in an Israeli strike in Bandar Abbas.

“The IDF eliminated the commander of the IRGC Navy,” Israel Katz said, describing him as responsible for operations targeting maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Katz said the strike was a “message” to Iran’s Guards, adding: “The IDF will hunt you down and eliminate you one by one.”

He said Israel would continue operations in Iran “with full force” to achieve its war aims.

The Pentagon is preparing military options for a possible “final blow” against Iran, including ground operations and a large-scale bombing campaign, Axios reported on Thursday, citing US officials and sources.

The report said options under discussion include seizing or blockading key islands such as Kharg, Larak and Abu Musa, as well as targeting Iranian oil exports and potentially conducting strikes or operations against nuclear facilities.

Axios said US officials view a major escalation as more likely if diplomacy fails or if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, though no decision has been made and some plans are described as hypothetical.

The report also said additional US forces, including thousands of troops and air assets, are being deployed to the region.

A source involved in mediation efforts told Axios that Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are working to organize talks, adding: “But mistrust is the problem. The commanders of the IRGC are very skeptical … But the mediators haven’t given up.”

An official from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the minimum age for participation in war-related support roles has been lowered to 12, according to remarks aired on state media.

Rahim Nadali, a cultural official with the Guards in Tehran, said an initiative called “For Iran” was recruiting participants to assist with activities such as patrols, checkpoints and logistics.

“Given that the age of those coming forward has dropped and they are asking to take part, we lowered the minimum age to 12,” he said, adding that 12- and 13-year-olds could now take part if they wished.

The comments were broadcast as part of state coverage of the war effort.

The move comes despite Iran’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the use of children in military activities.