Speaking at an annual White House Easter event, Trump said Iran had put forward a “significant” proposal, but stressed it fell short of US expectations.
“They made a proposal, and it’s a significant step. It’s not good enough,” he said, adding that discussions appeared to be progressing in “good faith”.
The US President reiterated his administration’s red line, asserting that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon”. He also noted a shift in tone from Tehran’s representatives, saying, “People talking for Iran are more reasonable now.”
However, Trump coupled the diplomatic opening with a stark warning of potential escalation if talks fail. “It could end very quickly, the war, if they do what they have to do,” he said, without elaborating on the specific conditions.
In a more pointed remark, Trump warned that failure to yield could result in severe consequences for Iran’s infrastructure, including bridges and power plants. “If Iran doesn’t yield, they won’t have bridges, they won’t have power plants,” he said.
Trump added that he had reviewed “every proposal” put forward so far and indicated that the coming hours would be decisive. “We’ll see what happens,” he said, underscoring that the Tuesday deadline would not be extended.
Trump also remarked, “If it were up to me, I would take the oil,” highlighting the high-stakes nature of the standoff.
Meanwhile, Iran has conveyed its response to a United States proposal to end the ongoing conflict, rejecting a temporary ceasefire and instead calling for a permanent end to hostilities, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The response was routed through Pakistan, which has emerged as a key intermediary in ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran’s foreign ministry reiterated its position that negotiations cannot proceed under coercion.
