Kanal13U.S. President Donald Trump says he’s ready to resume Iran bombardment if talks don’t go well. According to Associated Press speaking via telephone on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Trump was asked directly if he’d resume strikes if there isn’t progress in the coming talks in Islamabad. “Well, I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” Trump said. “But, you know, we’re ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.” Asked if he would continue the ceasefire if there’s progress in the next round of Iran talks, Trump said, “Well, I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time.” He said Iran “had a choice” and “they have to negotiate.” But it remained unclear when the ceasefire actually expires.
Tuesday night was the deadline when the pause was announced two weeks ago, but Trump told Bloomberg News on Monday that the ceasefire will expire Wednesday night. Trump also confirmed that he’ considering a request from the United Arab Emirates Central bank for a currency swap to help secure dollar liquidity for the oil-rich economy that’s been rattled by the Iran conflict.
The president expressed surprise that the nation needs assistance, but made clear he was open to the prospect of making the move to help meet his ally’s concerns. “I mean I’m surprised because they are really rich,” Trump said. He added, “You know, they’re very good for this country. So, yeah, if I could help them, I would.” The United Arab Emirates, an autocratically ruled federation of seven sheikdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Dubai, became wealthy from its oil deposits. It pegs its currency, the dirham, to the U.S. dollar. While it has been able to send some of its oil out via a pipeline to the Gulf of Oman, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has squeezed the country’s oil exports.
