US President Donald Trump has said he must decide whether to escalate the war with Iran or reach an agreement, signalling that a decision is approaching without specifying his next move.
Asked by reporters how he plans to deal with Iranian officials, Trump replied: “Maybe you blow them up.”
“We have to make that decision: We blow them up or make a deal,” he said. “But the time is coming. It's going to end very soon, one way or another.”
Trump’s has repeatedly said in recent weeks that he is weighing further military action against a deal with Tehran.
The US president has denied media reports in recent days that he is willing to offer economic sanctions relief and release frozen funds to Iran in exchange for concrete progress related to its nuclear programme.
"Overplayed" their hand
American news outlets Axios and CNN reported on Monday that the US president offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds, as the Middle East war drags on.
"Axios just released a story that 'Trump' offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING!," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Over the weekend, the US president rejected an Iranian proposal aimed at easing tensions and reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling Tehran's conditions "unacceptable" amid the seven-month Iran war.
Trump said over the weekend that he expects additional negotiations with Tehran, asserting that Iranian officials "overplayed" their hand during earlier talks.
