President Donald Trump said Monday that the latest US ceasefire proposal with Iran is “important” but “not good enough.”
“He has made a proposal and it’s an important proposal. It’s an important step forward,” Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn during the traditional Easter Egg Roll event.
“It’s not quite good, but it’s a very important step,” he said, adding, “They’re in talks right now, and they’ve taken a very important step. We’ll see what happens.”
The comments came after a White House official told CNBC that Trump did not support the idea of a 45-day ceasefire, which was reportedly being discussed between the two warring countries and regional mediators as of Sunday night.
Asked about that proposal at the Easter event, Trump said, “I’m the only one who’s going to establish a ceasefire.”
Trump is set to lead a press conference at the White House at 1 p.m. ET.
The ceasefire is being brought as a last-ditch effort before Trump’s upcoming deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or otherwise face major attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
one in Profanity-laced social media threats On Sunday, Trump warned that the US would launch attacks on Iranian bridges and power plants if Tehran did not agree to “open the f—– strait” by Tuesday night.
45-day resolution could end five-week-old war, Axios first informed Sunday evening, quoting sources with knowledge of the talks.
But a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CNBC on Monday morning, “This is one of several ideas, and (Trump) has not signed off on it.”
“Operation Epic Fury continues,” the official said, adding that Trump “will speak more at 1 p.m. ET.”
Trump’s belligerently social threat that Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all at the same time” showed him quietly extending a previously imposed 10-day pause on strikes, which was set to expire on Monday.
In a separate post Sunday night, Trump said the new deadline is Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.