Iran's Foreign Ministry is expected to issue a carefully worded response on Monday as the 48-hour deadline set by President Donald Trump expires, according to senior diplomatic sources familiar with the exchanges. Trump issued the ultimatum on Saturday, warning Tehran of consequences including strikes on power infrastructure if Iran refused to engage on its nuclear program. The deadline's expiration on Monday morning U.S. Eastern time sets the stage for a critical juncture in U.S.-Iran relations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is anticipated to hold a press conference in Tehran on Monday, in which he is expected to signal Iran's willingness to participate in indirect diplomatic talks mediated through Oman — a channel that has historically served as a backchannel between Washington and Tehran. However, sources close to the Iranian government indicate that Tehran will firmly reject any demand to halt uranium enrichment as a precondition for those talks, framing the ultimatum as political theatre for domestic American consumption.

The White House is expected to respond cautiously, with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio huddling Monday morning to assess the Iranian statement before any public remarks. Administration officials have been divided internally over how hard a line to maintain, with some advisors cautioning that premature military signaling could undermine the Oman channel before it produces results.

In Congress, both Republican hawks and Democratic foreign policy voices are expected to weigh in Monday, with Senate Foreign Relations Committee members requesting a classified briefing from the State Department on the current status of back-channel communications. Senator Lindsey Graham is expected to reiterate calls for Congress to authorize military force if Iran fails to comply, while Democratic members urge the administration to define clear diplomatic red lines before escalating.

The diplomatic standoff comes at a delicate moment, with Israel watching closely and the Gulf states — recently hosts to Ukrainian President Zelensky — recalibrating their own regional postures. Analysts note that Iran's expected conditional offer of talks, however limited, provides the Trump administration with a face-saving off-ramp that avoids immediate military confrontation while keeping pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme.