US President Donald Trump has described a reported proposal for a ceasefire in the Iran conflict as a “very significant step,” while insisting that it does not yet go far enough to bring an end to the fighting.
Trump made the comments on Monday during the White House Easter Egg Roll event, after officials confirmed that a 45-day truce was being considered. According to the president, negotiations were ongoing, but no agreement had been reached.
“It’s a significant proposal, it’s a significant step. It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” Trump told reporters. “They are negotiating now. We’ll see what happens.”
The remarks came as Iranian state media said Tehran had rejected what it described as an “American proposal” for a truce, further dimming hopes for a quick diplomatic breakthrough.
Efforts have intensified in recent days by several countries seeking to mediate an end to the conflict, which has now lasted 38 days and was triggered by Israeli and US attacks on Iran. Tehran has responded with missile and drone strikes on targets across the Middle East.
Despite the ceasefire discussions, Trump continued to issue warnings, saying Iran had until Tuesday evening Washington time to open the Strait of Hormuz or face further US action. He confirmed that deadline remained final.
During the White House event, where he appeared alongside First Lady Melania Trump and a person dressed as the Easter Bunny, Trump repeated his threats against Iranian infrastructure.
“If they don’t, they’ll have no bridges, no power plants, no anything,” he said. “I won’t go further because there are other things that are worse than those two.”
Trump had earlier used social media to threaten attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power facilities and bridges, before extending the deadline by one day.
Asked whether strikes on such targets could amount to a war crime, Trump said he was not concerned, arguing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was the real issue.
“You know the war crime? The war crime is allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
He also used harsh language in describing Iran’s leaders, accusing them of killing large numbers of protesters. Trump later said that if it were up to him, he would seize Iran’s oil, though he added that the American public wanted the war to end.
The White House said earlier on Monday that a 45-day ceasefire proposal remained only one of several options under review, and that Trump had not formally approved it.
“This is one of many ideas, and POTUS has not signed off on it. Operation Epic Fury continues,” a White House official stated
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