Amid the escalating tensions with Iran, US President Donald Trump on Monday offered rare praise for Iran's military, but underlined that Tuesday's deadline for truce is "final".
Notably, this is the sixth time that Trump has extended the final deadline for truce with Tehran.
Speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll along with First Lady Melania Trump, the President called Iranians capable fighters.
"Iranians are capable fighters, they are very tough people," he remarked. However, he added that even though the enemy is strong, they are not as strong as about a month ago.
"The enemy is strong, not so strong like they were about a month ago."
The statement follows Trump's comments calling Iranians "lousy" fighters just over a week ago.
"They're not fools. They're very smart, in a certain way. I say they're lousy fighters, but they're great negotiators," he had said towards the end of last month.
The Republican President had praised the Tehran's smartness earlier in March as well, but never said anything positive about their fighting capabilities up until now.
"I'm dealing with very smart players. These are smart people. They don't get there otherwise. You know who you're dealing with—High-level intellect. High, very high-IQ people," Trump said on March 16.
ALSO READ: US-Israel-Iran War Live News Updates: Iran Calls For Permanent End To War, Rejects Ceasefire
Middle East Turmoil
Monday marked the 38th day of the US, Israel-Iran conflict. The day has been riddled with mixed signals from the warring blocs.
On Sunday, Trump had made expletive-laden new threats to escalate strikes on Iran and its infrastructure if it doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz by his previous deadline.
Trump's comments came after American forces rescued an aviator whose Iran-downed plane fell behind enemy lines. In a social media post, he vowed to hit Iran's power plants and bridges and said the country would be "living in Hell" if the Strait of Hormuz, crucial for global trade, isn't opened by Tuesday. He ended with "Praise be to Allah."
However, reports of a potential truce between Washington and Tehran had surfaced earlier today. The report by Axios, which quoted four US, Israeli and regional sources, claimed that a partial deal may be reached between the parties involved within the next 48 hours.
The potential agreement will include a 45-day ceasefire, the report said. Iranian media has, since then, denied these claims, rejected possibility of a ceasefire, and demanded a permanent end to war.
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