President Donald Trump issued strong warnings to Iran in a phone interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” stating that the U.S. military is fully reloaded and prepared to resume strikes if the fragile ceasefire expires tomorrow without a new agreement.
“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” Trump said. “But we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.”
Key Statements from the CNBC Interview:
- Trump expressed confidence that the U.S. will ultimately secure a “great deal” with Iran, saying “I think they have no choice.”
- He highlighted America’s strengthened position: “We’ve taken out their navy, we’ve taken out their air force, we’ve taken out their leaders.”
- The President made clear he is not inclined to extend the current two-week ceasefire, which he previously confirmed expires Wednesday evening Washington time (April 22).
- He noted that the U.S. used the truce period to rearm and reload, and believes the military is now in an even stronger position than before the ceasefire began.
- "Iran can get themselves in a very good footing if they make a deal. They can make themselves into a strong nation again, a wonderful nation again. They have incredible people... they have to use reason, and they have to use common sense."
- "I want to make a great deal, I'm not going to be rushed."
- Trump said, "Israel has been a great partner."
- "What we have lost in terms of losses - we lost 13 men, and that’s terrible. I wish we didn’t lose one. But if somebody said, 'We’ve done this and obliterated that country and we lost 13 men,' people would’ve said, 'That’s not possible to have done that' ... So, we’ve done a great job, and I don’t want to be rushed by people who are really treasonous."
