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US President Donald Trump said Iran had no choice but to send negotiators to Islamabad for the new round of talks as it had no intention of extending the ceasefire.
In a blunt ultimatum that sent global markets into a tailspin on Tuesday, Trump declared in a television interview that he had “no interest” in extending the fragile ceasefire with Iran that was concluded this week. Instead, Trump warned that US bombers would be “ready to deploy with all haste” if a comprehensive agreement could not be reached by Wednesday’s deadline.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNBC “Squawk Box” Trump said he was optimistic the United States would ultimately reach what he called “a great deal.” He then rejected the possibility of a 45-day extension, saying Washington had the influence.
On the prospects for a ceasefire to end raging hostilities in the Middle East, he continued: “I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time.”
Trump stressed that there was not “much time” to reach an agreement, adding that Tehran could be on “very good footing” if it could reach an agreement with Washington. He later floated the idea of resuming attacks on Iran, saying: “I expect bombings because that would be a better attitude. The military is ready to go.”
Despite the heated rhetoric, the US president stressed that his goal remains to cease hostilities in a way that would lead to Tehran finally abandoning its nuclear enrichment ambitions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global commercial shipping. He pointed out that Tehran is in a weakened state following the US naval blockade of its ports and US military attacks on Iran’s military infrastructure, leaving the West Asian country “no choice” but to return to the negotiating table.
“They can become a strong nation again, a wonderful nation. But they’re led by some very, very, unfortunately tough people. And I don’t mean tough in a good way,” Trump said in the interview.
With the 14-day ceasefire expiring at midnight on April 22, Trump accused Iran of violating the partially implemented ceasefire. In a short message posted on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Iran has violated the ceasefire multiple times!” Iran’s Foreign Ministry subsequently described Washington’s blockage of the waterway as a “violation of the agreement.”
Islamabad’s dilemma
Trump’s defiant rhetoric that there will be “a lot of bombings” if a deal is not reached and other hawkish statements ahead of planned negotiations have effectively paralyzed the diplomatic mission in Pakistan. It is unclear whether the talks will take place in Islamabad as Iran says it has not yet sent a delegation, multiple sources told American broadcasters.
While a delegation led by US Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner landed in Islamabad on Monday, Iranian officials have signaled they may boycott the talks entirely. The biggest “obstacle,” according to Tehran, remains the U.S. seizure of the cargo ship M/V Touska on Sunday, an event the Iranian military has described as “unlawful” and an “act of piracy.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that it would not negotiate “under the shadow of threats,” especially as Trump continues to promise “severe consequences” if an agreement is not reached.
The Associated Press reports that two regional officials who requested anonymity said the U.S. and Iran have indicated that they will travel to the Pakistani capital for talks. The “Pakistan-led mediators” have received confirmation that US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf will arrive in Islamabad on the morning of April 22 to lead their teams in the talks, the agency officials said.
