Trump: "Ceasefire Extension Unlikely... Ceasefire Ends on the Evening of the 22nd"

Telephone Interview with Bloomberg

U.S. President Donald Trump. White House

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on the 20th (local time) that the ceasefire with Iran would last until the 22nd, and that the possibility of extending the ceasefire period was very low.

President Trump, in a phone interview with Bloomberg on this day, commented on the ceasefire announced on the 7th, saying, "It expires on Wednesday evening, Washington time," and made these remarks.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on the 7th. Accordingly, the ceasefire deadline was initially known to be until the 21st, but it appears the period was extended by a day as the expiration is interpreted as 'Washington time.'

Instead, President Trump said the possibility of extending the ceasefire is "very low," adding, "We are not going to rush into a bad deal. We have plenty of time."

He continued, "Didn’t the Vietnam War last for decades? Afghanistan also went on for years," and added, "We will not rush into a bad deal because of rebellious members of Congress."

President Trump also stated, "Iranians are desperate for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened," emphasizing, "We will not lift the maritime blockade until a deal is signed."

Earlier, Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to general merchant ships following the decision to hold a second round of talks. However, President Trump maintained the maritime blockade against Iran, prompting Iran to reverse its reopening measure. The situation became more tense after the U.S. military seized an Iranian cargo vessel en route from China to Iranian waters the previous day.

However, Bloomberg interpreted President Trump’s direct mention of a second round of talks and Iran’s ongoing dialogue with Pakistan, the mediator, as a sign that both sides are continuing efforts towards ending the conflict.

Recently, President Trump has been sending mixed signals regarding the negotiations. Citing White House officials, Bloomberg reported that this is intended to create 'strategic ambiguity' that can be used in the negotiations. However, Bloomberg pointed out that such uncertainty carries the risk of causing misunderstandings, especially amid divisions within the Iranian leadership.

Despite these circumstances, Bloomberg reported that White House officials still believe there is a high likelihood that an agreement to effectively end the war could be reached within the next few days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.