WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has declared that Iran has “no choice” but to finalize a nuclear agreement with the United States, asserting that the Islamic Republic’s military and economic position leaves it with no viable alternatives .
In a CNBC interview on Tuesday, Trump said he is confident the US will “end up with a great deal” and that Tehran is compelled to negotiate. “I think they have no choice,” he stated, noting that US actions have effectively “taken out their navy, their air force, and their leaders” .
Trump initially warned that he would not extend the two-week ceasefire and expected “to be bombing” Iran if no deal was reached by the Wednesday deadline, saying that would be “a better attitude to go in with” . However, in an abrupt shift hours later, Trump announced an indefinite ceasefire extension, crediting a direct request from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir .
Citing that Iran’s leadership is “seriously fractured,” Trump said he is giving Tehran time to produce a “unified proposal” . He emphasized that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will continue, asserting it is “completely crippling Iran’s economy” .
While Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad for a second round of talks has been delayed pending the Iranian proposal, Trump remains adamant that the new agreement will be “far better” than the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) . Iran has yet to formally respond to the extension offer, with officials previously stating they will not negotiate “under the shadow of threats”
