On the 14th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that “within two days” end-of-war talks with Iran could resume in Islamabad, Pakistan.

In a phone interview with the New York Post that day, Trump said, “You really should stay there (Islamabad). Because something could happen within the next two days, and the likelihood that we will go there has grown.” He added, “The reason the likelihood is greater is that the top military official is doing very well.”

The top military official Trump mentioned is interpreted as referring to Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir. Regarded as a power broker in Pakistan, General Munir built rapport last May as President Trump mediated India-Pakistan armed clashes, and he also played a key role in the process that led to the first round of end-of-war talks between the United States and Iran.

Regarding General Munir, Trump said, “He is truly excellent. So the likelihood that we will go back there is greater,” and added, “Why should we go to a country with which we have no ties?”

Trump's latest remark came during a call with a reporter in Islamabad. The New York Post reported that about 30 minutes after concluding the interview, he called back and made this comment. In the earlier call, he said discussions were underway but moving slowly, and that the next meeting was more likely to be held somewhere in Europe rather than in Pakistan.

Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. media reports that at the first meeting the United States demanded that Iran halt its uranium enrichment program for at least 20 years. He said, “I have said that they cannot have nuclear weapons,” and added, “Therefore, I do not like the time frame of ‘20 years’.” To the suggestion that a grace period could help induce an agreement, he replied, “I do not want to make Iran feel it has won.”

The previous day, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times reported that the United States had stepped back from its previous position of demanding that Iran permanently forgo the right to enrich uranium and had instead demanded a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment.