President Donald Trump said he’s “highly unlikely” to extend the fortnight-long ceasefire
President Donald Trump warned PBS News that should the ceasefire with Iran lapse on Tuesday, “then lots of bombs start going off”.
The remark came during a Monday morning telephone conversation, centred on the ongoing conflict with Iran, as Washington gears up for further peace negotiations mere hours before the truce concludes. Trump informed Bloomberg News that he’s “highly unlikely” to extend the fortnight-long ceasefire announced on April 7.
Amidst the concerning rhetoric, Trump also reportedly indicated to Fox News on Monday that an agreement with Iran would be finalised in Pakistan. Nevertheless, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated the government has no intentions regarding fresh discussions following America’s seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran’s hardline Tasnim news agency, linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that while the US naval blockade persists as an “obstacle”, American communications to Iran “contain further excessive demands that cloud the prospects for the upcoming talks.”
Iran “remains fully prepared for military confrontation and to once again punish the US,” Tasnim stated, reports the Mirror US.
Throughout the conflict, which commenced on 28th February, the Trump administration and Iranian state media have persistently provided conflicting narratives regarding both the hostilities and the peace negotiations. Complicating matters further, the president informed the New York Post that the US delegation, which includes Vice President JD Vance, were en route to Islamabad for the negotiations.
However, doubts have emerged as to whether Vance actually travelled with the delegation on Monday. CNN’s White House correspondent, Alayna Treene, wrote on X this morning: “VP Vance’s motorcade just pulled up at the White House.”
Speculation has been rife that Vance was removed from the negotiating team following the collapse of the previous round of US-Iran peace talks, during which he was unable to identify a specific stumbling block.
On Sunday, Trump reverted to his trademark intimidation tactics, posting a string of threatening messages on Truth Social.
“We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!” Trump wrote.
In a similar vein, the president told Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst: “If they don’t sign this deal, the whole country is going to get blown up.”
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