WASHINGTON — President Trump has rejected the idea of letting talks with Iran keep going if they run past tomorrow’s cease-fire expiration without a deal in place.
“Well, I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” Trump told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Tuesday morning when asked about the idea.
“They have to negotiate. And, you know, the one thing I’ll say is this: Iran can get themselves at a very good footing. If they make a deal, they can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again,” the president continued.
“They’re led by some very, very, unfortunately tough people. And I don’t mean tough in a good way. I think it’s very negative for the country.”
Later, Trump clarified that if the cease-fire ends without an agreement, he is prepared to resume attacking the Islamic Republic.
“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he said.
American negotiators, led by Vice President JD Vance, are set to jet over to Pakistan in the coming hours to try to broker an end to the war that began Feb. 28.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament who led Tehran’s delegation during initial discussions earlier this month, publicly indicated that Iran would not engage in talks with the US due to grievances over Trump’s tactics.
But Trump chided that “they have no choice but to send” their negotiators to Pakistan, crowing about how America decimated Iran’s navy, air force and top leadership.
“I think we’re at a very strong negotiating position to do what other presidents should have done during a 47-year period,” Trump contended. “So we’re not dealing with the nicest group of people, but we’re dealing with them very successfully. And the blockade has been a tremendous success.”
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Throughout the war on Iran, Trump has been adamant that the theocratic regime needs to abandon its nuclear program and turn over all enriched uranium believed to be buried underground after US airstrikes this past June.
Looming over the war has been Iran’s decision to wreak havoc on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage through which over a fifth of the world’s seaborne oil supply flows annually. Trump has since imposed a blockade meant to stop Iranian-backed vessels from getting through the waterway as well.
“We totally control the strait [of Hormuz],” the president insisted Tuesday. “Just so you understand, for all the fake news out there.”
