Washington, DC [US], April 19 (ANI): Ahead of the expiration on Tuesday of the two-week ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump in the conflict with Iran, US media outlets reported on Sunday that negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will head to Islamabad for talks with Iran.
President Trump’s Middle East envoy is headed to Pakistan this week to restart negotiations to end the Iran war, the US commander-in-chief told The New York Post.
“Steve’s going to be going there tomorrow night,” Trump said in a phone call on Sunday from the White House to the New York Post, confirming that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will land in Islamabad on Monday night ahead of a second round of peace talks, according to the report. The president added that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, will also be involved in the talks scheduled for Tuesday.
In an interview with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump said there is an ongoing struggle between “moderates” and “crazies” in Iran amid negotiations with the United States, while confirming that Kushner and Witkoff were departing for Islamabad.
“If the deal isn’t done—the deal that we made—then I’m going to take out their bridges and their power plants,” Trump said. “If they don’t sign this thing, the whole country is going to get blown up,” Fox News cited him as saying.
“We’re preparing to hit them harder than any country has ever been hit before because you cannot let them have a nuclear weapon,” the US president continued, according to the broadcaster. Trump added that Iran has “agreed to much” of the deal already.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump also warned of severe repercussions, including potential attacks on Iranian energy and civilian infrastructure, if Iran “doesn’t take the deal.”
“Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz—a total violation of our ceasefire agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French ship and a freighter from the United Kingdom. That wasn’t nice, was it? My representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan—they will be there tomorrow evening for negotiations,” he said.
On the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump claimed that Iran stands to lose significantly, estimating losses of USD 500 million per day, while asserting that the United States “loses nothing.”
“Iran recently announced that they were closing the strait, which is strange because our blockade has already closed it. They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage—$500 million a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many ships are headed right now to the US—Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska—to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be ‘the tough guy!’ We’re offering a very fair and reasonable deal, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single power plant and every single bridge in Iran. No more Mr. Nice Guy! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the deal, it will be my honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran by other presidents for the last 47 years. It’s time for the Iran killing machine to end!” Trump said.
The two-week ceasefire is set to expire on April 22. CNN reported that Iran has not immediately confirmed the plans.
The first round of ceasefire negotiations ended in a gridlock between Tehran and Washington over the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear capabilities. (ANI)
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