The U.S. president confirms cease-fire unlikely to extend without deal.
Through a message posted on Truth Social on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump tried to deny that his decision to launch the war with Iran was the result of Israeli pressure.
“Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did,” he said.
“I watch and read the FAKE NEWS. Pundits and Polls in total disbelief. 90% of what they say are lies and made up stories, and the polls are rigged, much as the 2020 Presidential Election was rigged.”
“Just like the results in Venezuela, which the media doesn’t like talking about, the results in Iran will be amazing – And if Iran’s new leaders (Regime Change!) are smart, Iran can have a great and prosperous future!” the Republican leader added.
On Monday, Trump also confirmed it is “highly unlikely” he would extend a two-week cease-fire with Iran if a deal is not reached before it ends this week.
The Strait of Hormuz would remain blocked until a peace agreement is finalized, he said in a phone interview with Bloomberg.
“They want me to open it. The Iranians desperately want it opened. I’m not opening it until a deal is signed,” he said.
Oil prices jumped as Washington maintained its blockade and the U.S. Navy seized an Iranian-flagged ship over the weekend.
“I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world,” Trump said, adding that the truce will expire on Wednesday evening U.S. Eastern Time.
Asked if he expects strikes to resume immediately afterward if no deal is reached, Trump said: “If there’s no deal, I would certainly expect.”
On Monday morning, the Republican leader told the New York Post that U.S. Vice President JD Vance had already left for the second round of negotiations with Iranian officials in Pakistan.
But according to The New York Times, which cited two U.S. officials, Vance is now expected to leave Washington for Pakistan on Tuesday.
Trump also told the Post that he is willing to meet with senior Iranian leaders if a breakthrough is reached. But he told Bloomberg, also on Monday morning, that he didn’t think it would be necessary for him to attend the talks in person.
As of Monday morning, U.S. forces have now turned back 27 ships to or from Iranian ports, the U.S. Central Command (CentCom) posted on X.
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
