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The president Donald Trump stated this Tuesday that the United States will achieve a "great agreement" with Iran to end the ongoing war, and dismissed the extension of the bilateral ceasefire that expires this Wednesday.
Trump made the statements in a phone interview with the program "Squawk Box" from CNBC, in which he assessed the prospects of a second round of negotiations scheduled in Islamabad.
"I believe they have no other option," Trump said when asked about what he expects from those conversations, directly referencing the devastating military impact that Iranian forces have suffered since the start of the conflict.
"We have destroyed their navy, we have destroyed their air force, we have destroyed their leaders," stated the president, listing the outcomes of the Epic Fury Operation, the joint offensive by the United States and Israel launched on February 28, 2026.
Trump also acknowledged that the removal of Iranian leadership amounts to a regime change, although it was not a stated objective from the beginning: "It's a regime change, no matter what you want to call it, which is not something I said I would do, but I have done it indirectly."
He added that the new Iranian leaders are "much more rational" than their predecessors.
Regarding the possibility of extending the truce to allow more time for negotiations, Trump was unequivocal: "I don't want to do that. We don't have that much time." according to EFE.
The leader also warned that he would prefer to resume attacks rather than negotiate from a position of weakness: "I expect to be bombing because I believe it is a better attitude for negotiations."
At the same time, Trump offered a diplomatic exit to Tehran: "Iran can be in a very strong position if they reach an agreement.
"They can turn their country into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again." He labeled Iranian leaders as "bloodthirsty," but emphasized that the Iranian people are "incredible."
The second round of negotiations in Islamabad was scheduled for this Tuesday, with Vice President JD Vance leading the U.S. delegation, accompanied by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
However, Iran announced that it would not participate "for now", demanding the release of frozen assets and describing Washington's positions as "unreasonable and unrealistic."
Tehran also declared that it does not accept "negotiations under the shadow of threat."
The differences between both sides remain profound. Washington demands the total and permanent dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, zero nuclear weapons, and the definitive reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran, on the other hand, offers only a five-year pause in uranium enrichment and demands 270 billion dollars in compensation.
Since April 13, the United States has also maintained a naval blockade against Iran with more than a dozen ships, one hundred aircraft, and 10,000 personnel, which is estimated to cost Tehran 500 million dollars daily.
This Tuesday, U.S. forces also announced the interception of a tanker linked to Iran in the Indo-Pacific.
The first round of negotiations in Islamabad, held on April 11, lasted 21 hours and ended without an agreement.
The ceasefire mediated by Pakistan expires this Wednesday, April 22, with Trump rejecting its extension and the future of the conflict hinging on a decision that could determine whether the war resumes or if both sides can lay the groundwork for an understanding.
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