U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized that he could take strong military action if diplomatic talks with Iran fail.
According to the U.S. online outlet Axios on the 27th (local time), President Trump said in an Axios interview that day that while he is "in very in-depth negotiations with Iran," "if the negotiations do not produce results, we will return to very powerful military action."
Asked how much longer a diplomatic resolution might take, President Trump said, "there isn't much time," adding, "it will either move quickly or not happen at all."
The United States carried out airstrikes against Iran for 13 consecutive days before halting them on the 24th. The United States and Iran are continuing talks through mediators, including Oman, on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear negotiations.
President Trump said he ordered the pause in strikes against Iran because there were requests from mediating countries, adding, "Everyone negotiating with Iran asked, 'Do not attack,' and there is nothing to gain and nothing to lose (right now)."
Regarding his meeting scheduled for the 28th with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump said, "If I were not president, Iran would by now have nuclear weapons and Israel would have been destroyed, and I will tell that to Bibi (Prime Minister Netanyahu)."