President Trump said Monday he is sticking by his deadline of 8 p.m. Tuesday before he begins targeting Iranian infrastructure as both sides in the war look at a ceasefire proposal.
Mr. Trump hinted at progress in Pakistan-facilitated talks about ending hostilities, but said they were not there yet.
“It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. “We’ll see what happens.”
Mr. Trump said he is dealing with more cooperative leaders in Iran after the U.S. killed previous leaders.
“We think they’re actually much smarter,” the president said.
The president also defended the duration of the war, saying it has lasted several weeks while other wars lasted years.
Mr. Trump has said he is ready to authorize major strikes against Iranian power plants and bridges on Tuesday if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway off Iran’s coast.
Iran has effectively closed the strait to commercial ship traffic since the start of the U.S. military campaign on Feb. 28.
The narrow waterway is a crucial maritime corridor for moving goods out of the Persian Gulf, especially oil. About 20% of the world’s oil flows through the strait. Its closure has driven rapidly rising fuel prices around the world.
On March 26, Mr. Trump gave Iran 10 days to open the strait or face strikes. That 10-day window expires Tuesday.
“They don’t wanna cry, as the expression says, ’uncle,’” Mr. Trump said Monday. “But they will. And if they don’t, they’ll have no bridges, they’ll have no power plants, they’ll have no anything.”
U.S. stocks have been on a rollercoaster ride since the war began.
Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on Gulf nations have resulted in higher oil prices and increased costs at the gas pump for everyday Americans.
The national average price of a gallon of gas reached $4.11 on Monday, an increase of over $1 from the start of the conflict, according to the AAA motor club. It’s the highest level since 2022.
Over the weekend, the U.S. retrieved an injured American pilot behind enemy lines in Iran, capping a tense two-day period after the airman’s F-15 fighter jet was downed late last week.
The rescue meant that both crew members of the F-15 Strike Eagle, believed to have been brought down by Iranian air defenses, were found.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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