U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Iran, saying he could resume military operations if no deal is reached within 60 days, and warned that as a result crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz could again face disruptions.
On the 19th, local time, Al Jazeera and others reported that President Trump issued a warning to Iran during a speech at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, D.C., introducing a new presidential plane (Air Force One) received from Qatar.
Trump said, "A deal with Iran has to be reached within 60 days," adding, "Otherwise, we will do something Iran will not like."
He added, "If we do that, crude shipments through the Strait of Hormuz will suddenly be halted," noting, "People who own multibillion-dollar ships do not like missiles flying over their heads, and they do not like seas seeded with mines."
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war, but as clashes between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah intensified, the final talks have hit a snag even before they began. Working-level talks were abruptly canceled, heightening tensions between the two sides again.
Even amid this situation, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized the possibility of a deal. Trump said, "I don't think that will happen," expressing confidence that an agreement with Iran would be reached within 60 days as specified in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war. He also said, "The United States won many victories in the Iran war," adding, "We swept everything away."
Meanwhile, the new U.S. presidential plane unveiled that day is a Boeing 747 that Qatar provided during President Trump's Middle East tour last year. It is expected to be operated temporarily until the next-generation presidential plane is introduced.