WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that he did not want to extend a ceasefire with Iran, adding the US was in a strong negotiating position and would end up with what he called a great deal.
“I think they have no choice,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC.
“We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders,” the US President was quoted as saying.
Trump added the US was entering talks from a position of strength, as the US negotiation team led by Vice President JD Vance prepared for dialogue with Iranian officials in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.
“We’re in a very, very strong negotiating position,” he told CNBC.
The US President’s remarks come ahead of a second round of talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad aimed at ending the conflict.
Trump indicated he was not inclined to extend the current ceasefire, which is due to expire on Wednesday.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Tuesday told Iranian state TV that Tehran had not yet made a decision on whether to attend talks with the US in Pakistan.
He further said US moves against two Iranian vessels amounted to “piracy at sea and state terrorism” and questioned Washington’s seriousness in negotiating.
“The aggression against Iranian ships and the continued pressure indicate the continuation of the opposing side’s contradictory behaviour,” Baghaei added.
Pakistan has played a critical role in mediating talks between the U.S. and Iran, hosting an initial round of negotiations earlier this month and making strides to facilitate more talks ahead of the ceasefire’s scheduled expiration on Wednesday.
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