WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said today that the Tuesday is the deadline he set for Iran to reach a deal with the United States is final, warning that failure to respond could trigger major attacks on Iranian infrastructure.
Speaking during an Easter event on the South Lawn of the White House, Trump said Iran had submitted what he called a “significant” peace proposal, but insisted that it still fell short of American demands.
“They made a proposal, and it’s a significant proposal. It’s a significant step. It’s not good enough,” Trump told reporters. He added that there would be no extension to the deadline and said the war could end quickly if Iran agreed to the conditions set by Washington.
The latest developments come as tensions continue to rise in the growing Iran-US conflict and the wider Iran-Israel war. Trump has repeatedly warned that American forces could launch broad strikes against Iran’s power plants, bridges and other major infrastructure if Tehran does not accept the proposed deal by Tuesday night.
According to Trump, the conflict could end “very quickly” if Iran agrees to halt activities related to nuclear weapons and reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route that has been largely blocked during the conflict. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the narrow waterway, making the crisis a major concern for international markets.
Trump’s senior aides have been holding indirect negotiations with Iran through mediators in Pakistan. The talks are reportedly focused on convincing Iran to permanently abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, however, has said it wants a permanent end to the war rather than a temporary ceasefire. Tehran is also demanding sanctions relief, reconstruction support and guarantees for safe passage through the waterway.
Iran has already rejected Trump’s latest deadline, arguing that it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a short-term ceasefire. Iranian officials said the country is reviewing the proposal delivered through Pakistan but does not believe Washington is ready to commit to a long-lasting peace agreement.
Trump nevertheless suggested that the latest Iranian negotiating team appears more pragmatic than previous officials. He said the current representatives are “not as radicalized” as others who have been killed in recent airstrikes.
In one of his strongest remarks yet, Trump also said that if it were entirely his decision, the United States would take control of Iran’s oil resources. He argued that Iran’s oil fields are “there for the taking” and claimed the US could make “plenty of money” from them, although he admitted many Americans would oppose such a move.
