1. Home
2. Middle East
3. Trump Speaks to Press on Iran as Ceasefire Proposals Waver

U.S. President Donald Trump held a series of public speeches on Iran at the White House on Monday as the U.S. and Iran approach Trump’s Tuesday evening deadline for a deal.

Trump has claimed success in U.S. operations in Iran so far, asserting that “we can leave Iran now and it will take decades for it to get back to what it was, but I want to complete the mission.”

“⁠Iran was strong a month ago, but that’s no longer the case. We completely eliminated the Iranian regime,” he continued.

Trump added that the sole U.S. focus in its war with Iran is to ensure that the country does not possess nuclear weapons. He also stated that “if it were up to me, I would take Iranian oil.”

Trump’s Tuesday Deadline

Trump reiterated his threat that Tuesday is a final deadline for Iran to reach a deal with the United States.

He conveyed that U.S. officials are still engaging in a path towards reaching an agreement favorable to U.S. terms, saying that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. senior advisor Jared Kushner are holding talks regarding Iran, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance might join them. 

Trump expressed that “we have witnessed a change in the Iranian regime, and they are now more moderate” as he pushes Iran to accept his terms.

However, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that “today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation. Tomorrow, even more than today, Iran has a choice.” He warned that Iran should “choose wisely, because this president does not play around.”

According to a U.S. official referenced in a Jerusalem Post report, Trump has approved the U.S. military to strike new targets in Iran should the deadline be reached without a deal. 

Trump said in a press briefing that if Iran rejects the agreement, “Iran will pay a heavy price” and will be left with no power stations or bridges.

“Iran wants a ceasefire because it is facing annihilation. I gave them a chance and they didn’t take it,” Trump said.

Amid discourse on continued escalation, concerns over the implications and legality of targeting civilian infrastructure have been dismissed by Trump. He said that he is not worried about concerns over targeting infrastructure and is instead focused on preventing a “sick country with demented leadership” from having a nuclear weapon. 

Iran Maintains its Stance

Iran has insisted that it will not end the war by capitulating to U.S. demands. 

The spokesperson to the IRGC characterized Trump’s threats as “rude and baseless” and will not affect Iran’s ongoing operations against U.S. and Israeli targets.

According to Iranian media, Tehran submitted a response to Pakistan’s proposal for ending the war on Monday, demanding an end to regional conflicts, the establishment of a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, and payment for reconstruction.

Iranian officials said that they are interested in ending the war, but not in the manner and timeline that Trump has been seeking, in a report from CNN. 

At the same time, Iranian officials have stated that they will respond to escalatory actions by the U.S. and Israel, with the IRGC releasing a statement signaling intent to avenge the death of intelligence chief Majid Khademi, who was killed in an Israeli strike.

“The malicious and desperate enemy should know that a major retaliatory strike by the IRGC intelligence organization…awaits the perpetrators of the crime,” the Revolutionary Guards said.

The spokesperson to the Iranian Foreign Ministry also expressed that Iran would retaliate against U.S. infrastructure in the Middle East if it attacked electrical infrastructure and bridges in Iran, conveying that such a response would be defensive and proportionate.