US President Donald Trump has indicated that while Washington remains prepared to launch heavy strikes against Iran on Tuesday, the deadline could shift if negotiations show meaningful progress, Fox News reported.
Speaking to Fox News anchor Bret Baier on the phone, Trump reiterated that the deadline remains in place for now.
Baier asked the president if he were to put odds on Tuesday's deadline, what were the odds that this is going to end up being a negotiated deal. To which Trump said that he wasn't going to put odds on it. However, he added that ‘8 p.m. is happening.
According to Baier, Trump warned of severe military action if the deadline passes without an agreement.
“He said, it is, if we get to that point, there is going to be an attack like they have not seen. Now he's sticking to that at this point.”
Also Read: Iran 'Stops Negotiations' With US; Pakistan Role Under Cloud As Tehran Snaps 'Indirect Channels'
The US president also left room for a diplomatic breakthrough.
“He said if negotiations move forward today and there is something concrete, that could change. But at this hour, he didn't want to put odds on it. But he said it is moving forward with the plans that we have. That's a huge deal,” Baier added, quoting Trump.
Media reports said that Trump issued a stark warning to Iran earlier on Tuesday, saying “a whole civilization will die tonight” if a deal is not reached to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Also Read: Defying Trump's Threat, Iranians Gather Near Largest Power Plant In Tehran, Form Human Chain
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.”
He added, “However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
Trump has set an 8 pm. ET deadline for the Iranian leadership to agree to a ceasefire that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor.
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