'Ready to go military': Trump rules out extending Iran ceasefire, says US in strong negotiating position

US President Donald Trump struck an aggressive note on Tuesday on the ongoing geopolitical standoff in West Asia, declaring that the United States is “ready to go military” even as negotiations continue behind the scenes.

Follow live updates from the West Asia war.

In an interview with CNBC, the Republican president said Washington is operating from a position of strength after what he described as sweeping strategic and military gains. “We’re going to end up with a great deal. I think they have no choice… We’re in a very, very strong negotiating position,” he said, adding that the other side “has no choice” but to come to the table.


Trump also signalled reluctance to prolong the current ceasefire with Iran, indicating a sense of urgency in pushing talks to a conclusion.

Asked about the possibility of extending the truce, he said, “I don’t want to do that” while reassuring confidence that the US would secure favourable terms in any final agreement.

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"We don't have that much time because by the time both parties get here, you know, they just got to be okay to go forward, which I knew they were going to do anyway. I don't think they've a choice. 
They have to negotiate," he added.

In a separate message posted on X, Trump also made a direct appeal to Iranian leadership ahead of talks, urging the release of detained women as a goodwill gesture.

"To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations," he wrote.

On Hormuz and China 'gift' to Iran

On the critical maritime flashpoint involving the yet again closed Strait of Hormuz, Trump told CNBC that the US would maintain pressure despite signals from the other side about reopening the key strait.

“They said they would open it, but we’re not doing anything until we have a final deal,” he said, describing the ongoing US counter blockade as a success and underscoring his administration’s hardline negotiating approach.

Expanding on his stance, the two-time president argued that recent US actions have fundamentally shifted the balance in its favour, claiming that key military capabilities of the opposing side had been neutralised and its leadership weakened.

He suggested that these developments, while complicating the situation in some respects, had also brought in “more rational” actors, strengthening the prospects for a deal.

"What I think is that we're going to end up with a great deal. 
I think it's got I think they have no choice. We taken out their Navy, we've taken out their Air Force. We've taken out their leaders, frankly, which does complicate things in one way, but these leaders are much more rational," Trump told the news outlet.


Speaking with CNBC, Trump went further to suggest that a form of regime change had already taken place, albeit "indirectly".

"It is regime change, no matter what you want to call it, which is not something I said I was going to do, but I've done it indirectly, maybe, but I've done it," he said.

Trump also claimed that US forces had recently intercepted a vessel allegedly carrying supplies to Iran from China, suggesting efforts by Tehran to replenish its military capabilities during the ceasefire. He described the shipment as “a gift from China” that “wasn’t very nice,” adding that the development caught him off guard.