trump addressing the nation at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday, President Donald Trump said Americans who oppose the war with Iran are "foolish" and repeated that he would "take the oil" if it were his choice. He also said the fight is "about one thing: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."
The remarks came as a White House official said a 45-day ceasefire proposal was "one of many ideas" and that Trump had not signed off on it. The same day, a U.S. official and another source familiar with the negotiations said a draft on the table calls for a 45-day ceasefire while a permanent end to the war could be negotiated.
White House Easter Egg Roll
Trump linked his comments to the wider conflict in a series of direct statements. He said, "We are obliterating their country. And I hate to do it, but we're obliterating," then added, "Because it's there for the taking -- there's not a thing they can do about it."
He also said, "If it were up to me, I'd take the oil, I'd keep the oil, I'd make plenty of money. And I'd also take care of the people of Iran." In the same exchange, he said, "If it were up to me I'd like to keep the oil, I just don't think the people of the United States would really understand."
Ceasefire Proposal on Monday
The ceasefire plan remains unresolved. The White House official said Trump had not signed off on the 45-day proposal, and ABC News said it had not confirmed the reported plan. The draft described by a U.S. official and another source would use the 45 days to negotiate a permanent end to the war.
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The same reporting said the administration's key demands call for Iran to give up control over the Strait of Hormuz and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Sources told News that Iran had shown little to no flexibility on those terms.
Hormuz Talks and Tuesday Deadline
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran has been talking with Oman on examining "a procedure for the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz." He said the talks have been held at the level of deputy foreign ministers and added, "We think these talks will continue until coming to a conclusion."
Baqaei also said Iranians will not be "subjugated" by deadlines in defending their country. Trump has threatened to target Iran's power plants and bridges unless the regime opens the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday night, while mediators are attempting confidence-building measures as Trump's Tuesday deadline approaches.
What remains unknown is whether Trump will approve any ceasefire proposal, whether the reported demands on the strait and uranium stockpile will stay in place, and whether talks in the coming hours produce a deal before Tuesday night.
