US President Donald Trump speaks to the press earlier than departing from the South Garden of the White Home in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2026.
Brendan Smialowski | AFP | Getty Photographs
President Donald Trump on Monday once more threatened Iran with overwhelming army power, saying “a lot of bombs [will] begin going off” if no deal is reached earlier than a shaky ceasefire with Tehran expires Tuesday night.
The newest risk, made in a cellphone name with a PBS Information reporter, got here because the standing of extra U.S.-Iran peace talks, and different key particulars on the present relationship between the warring powers, have grown more and more opaque.
On the similar time, Trump has resumed his saber-rattling rhetoric, which had escalated two weeks in the past earlier than the expiring fragile ceasefire was reached. Trump, in cellphone calls with reporters over the previous two days, has vacillated between conflict mongering and providing unclear particulars about additional negotiations.
Specifics a few potential deal additionally stay fuzzy. The Trump administration has acknowledged repeatedly that Iran mustn’t ever be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, and the president mentioned Friday that the U.S. would additionally get what he has known as the “Mud” left after final yr’s bombing of Iranian nuclear websites.
He has additionally demanded that Iran absolutely reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ship site visitors, which has slowed to a trickle for the reason that conflict started on Feb. 28. The de facto closure of the important thing delivery route has despatched international oil costs spiraling, giving Iran a significant supply of leverage and spurring the U.S. to impose a retaliatory naval blockade of Iran’s ports in the course of the ceasefire.
Trump in a Fact Social put up Monday afternoon boasted that the blockade is “completely destroying Iran” and declared that it’s going to not be lifted till a deal is struck.
In one other put up, the president insisted that the deal being made with Iran “shall be FAR BETTER” than the Obama-era settlement often known as the Iran nuclear deal, which Trump scrapped throughout his first time period in workplace.
Trump, whereas lashing out at his perceived critics, additionally acknowledged he doesn’t really feel obligated to chop a deal inside six weeks, his preliminary prediction for the size of the conflict. “I am not going to allow them to rush america into making a Deal that’s inferior to it may have been,” Trump wrote.
Monday’s risk of extra bombing adopted a Sunday morning declaration to a Fox Information reporter that “the entire nation goes to get blown up” and that if Tehran would not signal a deal, Iran’s bridges and energy crops shall be focused in these assaults.
The threats escalate tensions with Iran at the same time as a U.S. delegation gears as much as journey again to Pakistan for a possible second spherical of peace talks.
The delegation “plans to journey to Islamabad quickly,” a supply conversant in the matter advised CNBC on Monday morning on situation of anonymity to debate the journey.
The knowledge, which means the delegation has but to depart, got here after Trump advised a New York Publish reporter Monday morning that U.S. officers are “heading over now.”
A primary spherical of talks in Islamabad earlier this month, led by Vice President JD Vance and U.S. particular envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, ended with no deal after a 21-hour negotiating session.
Trump confirmed to the New York Publish that the identical three officers are a part of the round-two delegation.
It was not instantly clear if Iran has agreed to take part in additional peace talks.
A spokesman for Iran’s Overseas Ministry mentioned at a information convention Monday that there aren’t any plans to attend negotiations with the U.S., a number of shops reported.
However The New York Instances, citing two senior Iranian officers, reported later Monday morning {that a} delegation from Tehran is planning to go to Islamabad on Tuesday for talks with the U.S.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a press release Monday morning illustrated how longstanding hostility between the 2 sides will inevitably carry into any extra negotiations.
“Deep historic distrust in Iran towards U.S. gov conduct stays,” Pezeshkian wrote in an X put up, “whereas unconstructive & contradictory indicators from American officers carry a bitter message; they search Iran’s give up. Iranians don’t undergo power.”
The U.S. and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the night of April 7, shortly earlier than the deadline when Trump warned that “a complete civilization will die” if no deal is struck.
The short-term truce has come beneath mounting pressure all through its quick period, as either side accused the opposite of violating its phrases.
On Sunday, Trump mentioned that the U.S. Navy, which is obstructing Iranian ports close to the Strait of Hormuz, fired on and seized an Iran-flagged cargo ship that had tried to bypass the blockade.
The escalation got here as Trump has complained that Iran has did not reopen the strait, which in regular occasions is the throughway for 20% of the world’s oil transit.
That is growing information. Please examine again for updates.
