By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON– US President Donald Trump said that he is expecting Iran's response to Washington's latest proposal for ending the Middle East war by "tonight," even as reports emerged that the two sides could resume negotiations as early as next week in Islamabad.

Speaking to reporters outside the White House, Trump said, "I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we'll see how that goes." 

When asked whether he believed Iran was deliberately slowing down the process, Trump replied, "We'll find out soon enough." 

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter, the United States and Iran could resume negotiations as early as next week in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. 

The Journal reported that both sides are working with mediators to formulate a one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) that would set the parameters for a month of talks aimed at ending the war. 

The proposed draft includes discussions on Iran's nuclear program, reducing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, and possible arrangements for transferring Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles to another country. However, several major issues remain unresolved, with the scope of potential sanctions relief for Tehran being a key sticking point. 

If negotiations advance, the initial one-month period could be extended by mutual agreement, according to the report. 

Trump's comments came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was awaiting a response from Iran and hoped it would be "a serious offer."

"We should know something today," Rubio told reporters during a gaggle in Rome. He noted that no response had been received "as of the last hour" and suggested that Iran's internal political divisions could be contributing to the delay. 

"Their system is still highly fractured, and it's dysfunctional as well, so that may be serving as an impediment," Rubio said. 

Earlier on Thursday, responding to descriptions of the proposal as a "one-page" document, Trump challenged that characterization.

"Well, it's more than a one-page offer. It's an offer that basically said they will not have nuclear weapons; they are going to hand us the nuclear dust and many other things that we want," Trump said. 

When questioned on whether Iranian leadership had consented to these terms, Trump expressed skepticism about the durability of any agreement.

"They have agreed. When they agree, it doesn't mean much because the next day they forget they agreed," he said, adding, "And you know, we're dealing with different sets of leaders." 

Regional tensions escalated after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

A ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation took effect on April 8, though the first round of talks in Islamabad on April 11 failed to produce a lasting agreement.

The truce was later extended by Trump without a defined deadline. Since April 13, the U.S. has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strategic waterway