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President Donald Trump said Thursday he had extended the deadline for nuclear negotiations with Iran by 10 days, revealing that Tehran had sent him 10 Pakistani-flagged oil tankers as a goodwill gesture, while warning he would target Iranian power plants if diplomacy collapses.
Speaking to Fox News by phone, Trump said Iran had initially requested a seven-day extension but that he granted additional time "because they gave me ships." He expressed skepticism about the talks' prospects, saying the Iranians had asked for the extension but adding, "I wasn't happy with them."
"We made a statement that we were having productive negotiations. I don't know that they get there. Maybe they do. Maybe they won't," he said.
Trump issued a blunt warning should Iran fail to reach an agreement within the new timeframe. "If they don't do what they have to do, I will knock out their power plants," he said, framing the issue as one of existential security.
"You can't let a madman, or you can't let a bad ideology have a nuclear weapon," he argued, claiming that a nuclear-armed Iran could threaten not only Israel and the broader Middle East but the United States itself.
The negotiations are unfolding against the backdrop of an intense military campaign. Regional tensions have escalated sharply since Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran that has killed more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets.
Trump reiterated claims that American forces have already inflicted severe damage on Iran's military infrastructure, saying the country's navy and air force have been largely destroyed. He claimed 154 ships had been knocked out along with missile launchers.
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