Trump signals he 'might not extend' ceasefire

US President Donald Trump made statements to reporters while returning to Washington from Phoenix, Arizona.

Regarding the negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent agreement with Iran, Trump said, "Things seem to be going very well with Iran in the Middle East. Our talks will continue throughout the weekend. I think things will go well. Most of the issues have been negotiated and agreed upon. The most important thing is that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon. You cannot allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and that is above everything else."

Trump stated that if a long-term agreement is not reached, he might not extend the current ceasefire with Iran, which expires on Wednesday, April 22, saying, "I don't know. Maybe I won't extend it, but the blockade will continue. Unfortunately, we will have to start dropping bombs again."

Claiming that Iran's enriched uranium would be brought to the US, Trump said, "If we don't make a deal, we will take it in a different way, in a much more hostile way. But in any case, we will take it." When asked if there would be a toll for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump replied, "Absolutely not. There will be no toll."

"ENRICHED URANIUM CANNOT BE TAKEN ANYWHERE"

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei responded on state television to the statements regarding the claim that Iran's enriched uranium would be taken to the US. Baghaei said, "Iran's enriched uranium cannot be taken anywhere under any circumstances. Just as Iranian soil is sacred, so is its enriched uranium." Baghaei added, "The transfer of Iran's enriched uranium to the US has never been on the agenda."