WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could resume military strikes against Iran if ongoing negotiations fail to yield a long-term agreement by next Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump stated that while talks are progressing, military options remain active. The President cautioned that he may not extend the current two-week, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire if a final deal is not secured before it expires.
“Maybe I won’t extend it, so you have a blockade, and unfortunately, we have to start dropping bombs again,” Trump said.
The President confirmed that the ongoing U.S.-led naval blockade on Iranian ports will remain in place regardless of the immediate status of the ceasefire. The blockade was initially imposed as part of a broader strategy to pressure Tehran into fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and accepting the truce after weeks of conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran
Trump emphasized that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the core objective of the negotiations, stating that the issue “supersedes everything else.” If an agreement is finalized, the President claimed that the U.S. and Iran would work together to transfer Iran’s enriched uranium out of the country and to the United States.
Despite reports of unresolved disputes over nuclear issues and regional proxies, Trump expressed optimism about the trajectory of the talks, suggesting that significant portions of a potential agreement have already been discussed.
“I expect things to go well. Many of these things have been negotiated and agreed to,” he told reporters.
The situation remains volatile, with Iranian officials previously indicating that significant disagreements remain. As the Wednesday deadline approaches, the outcome of weekend diplomatic talks will likely determine whether the region moves toward de-escalation or returns to active conflict.