President Donald Trump told CNBC in an interview on Tuesday that he did not want to extend the ceasefire with Iran, saying Washington was in a strong negotiating posture and expected to obtain what he described as "a great deal." When asked about the possibility of prolonging the truce, he said: "I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time."
The president also addressed the status of potential diplomatic talks, saying the United States believed negotiations with Iran would move forward in Pakistan. He noted that a senior Iranian official had indicated Tehran was considering joining those discussions, though final participation remained uncertain.
With those last-minute talks still unresolved, Mr. Trump made clear the military option remained on the table. "I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with. But we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go," he said, adding that if no deal is reached soon the U.S. would resume attacks on Iran.
What was said
- The president stated he did not want to extend the ceasefire and emphasized limited time to negotiate.
- He characterized the U.S. negotiating position as strong and said it would result in a "great deal."
- Washington expected talks with Iran to take place in Pakistan, and a senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering attending.
- Trump warned that, absent a timely agreement, the United States would resume military strikes.
Reporting limits
The interview conveyed the president's public statements about negotiation timelines, Iran's potential participation in talks, and the readiness of U.S. military forces. The account does not provide details on specific diplomatic arrangements, precise timetables, or further confirmation of Iran's participation beyond the senior official's reported consideration.