HIBAPRESS – Follow-up
Ahead of the expected second round of negotiations, US President Donald Trump announced today, Tuesday, his unwillingness to extend the ceasefire with Iran, stressing that the United States is in a strong negotiating position with Iran and that it will eventually reach a "great deal."
Trump praised in an interview with CNBC the naval blockade on Iran, adding: "We destroyed Iran's fleet and air force and killed its leaders." As for returning to war, Trump said: "I and the military are ready for military intervention against Iran, and I do not want to extend the truce because we have no time." Prior to that, the US President accused Iran today, Tuesday, of "violating the ceasefire several times." This came in a brief post on his official page on the "Truth Social" platform, without mentioning further details. Earlier, the US President stressed that "Iran will negotiate or it will face unprecedented problems." Trump said during a telephone interview with The John Fredericks Show radio program: "I hope the Iranians reach a fair agreement and rebuild their country." He added: "We did a great job in Iran, and we will finish the matter, and everyone will be happy," noting that the US blockade of Iranian ports is costing Tehran millions in losses daily. At the same time, he reiterated his statement that the United States will not allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. For her part, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the United States is closer than ever to reaching an agreement with Iran despite the continued uncertainty about holding a new round of talks. Leavitt added in an interview with Fox News: "The United States is closer tonight than ever to reaching a really good agreement, unlike the disastrous agreement that Barack Hussein Obama signed, as we are now," referring to the 2015 nuclear agreement that President Donald Trump later canceled. She said that the United States is approaching an agreement, but added that President Trump has several options if an agreement is not reached, and will not hesitate to use them, indicating that he had previously proven that he fulfills what he says. A Pakistani official source confirmed to Al Arabiya and Al-Hadath earlier today that the second round of negotiations will be held on schedule, confirming the arrival of the American and Iranian delegations to Islamabad today at the same time. It is worth noting that the agreed two-week truce expires by tomorrow, Wednesday.
