US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the “president of the new Iranian regime” had asked the United States for a ceasefire. The American leader said he would consider it once the Strait of Hormuz was open and free.
“The president of the new Iranian regime, much less radicalized and much more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the US for a CREASEFIRE! We will consider (it) when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free and clear. Until then, we will attack Iran until it sinks into oblivion, or as they say, returns to the Stone Age!!!” – Trump wrote on Truth Social.
On Wednesday at 9 p.m. local time (Thursday at 3 a.m. in Poland), Trump will address the nation “with important information about Iran,” the White House announced.
On Tuesday, Trump announced that the operation against Iran would last another two to three weeks. He also assessed that the Iranians wanted to conclude an agreement with the US.
In an interview with Reuters, Trump also announced that the United States would “leave Iran quite quickly” but could return if necessary to conduct “point attacks.” He did not provide a date for the completion of the operation.
– They will not have nuclear weapons because they are not capable of it now, and I will leave and take everyone with me, and if necessary, we will come back and conduct point attacks – he added.
The president assessed that there had been a “full regime change” in Iran.
– I have a very good chance that we will reach an agreement because they no longer want to be attacked – he added. – I didn't need a change of regime, but it happened because of the victims in the war. (…) So we have regime change and, importantly, they will not have nuclear weapons, Trump said, asserting that the Iranians “don't want” nuclear weapons.
When asked about Iran's stockpiles of enriched uranium, he replied: – It's deep underground. I don't care. We will always be watching this via satellite.
Trump also recognized that the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran, would be safe after the end of the US operation and announced that the US would have “nothing to do with it.” He also emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz should be unblocked by countries that use it.
The president assures that the US is in talks with the Iranians. At the same time, it is considering further military options in Iran, and additional forces have been sent to the region.
On Saturday, March 28, in the face of growing speculation about a possible attack by American ground forces on Iran, the US Central Command announced that the USS Tripoli landing ship had reached the Middle East. It added that “transport and fighter planes, as well as landing and tactical means” are also ready. On Tuesday, the aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush and its accompanying group of ships set off for the Middle East. The unit is to join two other aircraft carriers – USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R. Ford.
Iran: The US president's statement is false
President Donald Trump's statements that Iran would ask the United States for a ceasefire are false and baseless, said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bagei on Wednesday, quoted by Iranian state television. Meanwhile, further reports about the negotiations appear in the media.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump announced on Truth Social that the “president of the new Iranian regime” had asked the United States for a ceasefire.
“The president of the new Iranian regime, much less radicalized and much more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the US for a CREASEFIRE! We will consider (it) when the Strait of Hormuz is open, free and clear. Until then, we will attack Iran until it sinks into oblivion, or as they say, returns to the Stone Age!!!” – Trump wrote.
Moreover, Reuters reported, citing an anonymous source, that US Vice President JD Vance talked to Pakistani intermediaries about war with Iran as recently as Tuesday. According to the agency, Trump allegedly instructed him to say that he was open to a ceasefire as long as the United States' demands towards Iran were met, including the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Vance also allegedly delivered a warning that Trump was losing patience and that unless Tehran agreed to the US offer, American forces would continue to destroy Iranian infrastructure.
A Reuters source added that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner remain engaged in the talks.
A journalist from the Axios portal wrote on the X platform that three American officials, who wished to remain anonymous, told him that talks between Washington and Tehran were ongoing. Barak Ravid's sources said that a ceasefire would be established in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz. He added that it is not clear whether the talks are going well and whether any agreement will be reached. Trump was to discuss ceasefire issues in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz with people also from outside his administration.
So far, Iran has denied reports of ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Nevertheless, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi told Al-Jazeera on Tuesday that he had received messages from Steve Witkoff but did not consider it a negotiation. The US attacked Iran on March 28, starting a war whose effects, especially on energy prices, are being faced by the entire world. (PAP)
awm/kar/
Sun/tu/
