Netanyahu urged Trump not to promote a ceasefire with Iran at this stage

Trump spoke today at the White House and added a detail about his conversation with Netanyahu: “If we hadn’t attacked them and it was also a very brave decision with all the planes that flew at night, almost without cover, incredible stealth planes and they carried out the mission, if we hadn’t done that, Iran would have had a high-level nuclear weapon, in one of these two scenarios. If that had happened, in my opinion and I said it to Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday: Israel would be extinct.” Among his remarks, Trump referred to the fragility of Iran and said that “all of Iran can be wiped out in one night, it may be as early as tomorrow.”

He also added: “The ten days actually ended today, so I gave them eleven, I guess indirectly. I thought it wasn’t appropriate to do it the day after Easter, I want to be a nice person. They have until tomorrow. We’ll see what happens. I can say they’re negotiating, and we think it’s in good faith, but we’ll find out. We’re getting assistance from some amazing countries that want this thing to end, because it affects them too. A lot of factors are affected by it. We give them until tomorrow at eight o’clock in the evening, Eastern Time. After that they will have no bridges, they will have no power plants – the ‘Stone Age’.” Trump stated: “We will blow up every bridge and power plant, all of Iran will burn within four hours from tomorrow at eight in the evening.”

The Reuters news agency reported earlier today, from a source privy to the details of the contacts, that Iran and the United States received during the night an outline for the end of hostilities, which may come into force today and also lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, the framework for the proposal was drawn up by Pakistan and delivered during the night to both Tehran and Washington. This is a two-stage plan, which first includes an immediate cease-fire, followed by the formulation of a more comprehensive agreement. The source told Reuters that “all the elements should be closed today”, adding that the initial understandings should be anchored in the memorandum of understanding to be signed electronically through Pakistan, which at this stage serves as the only channel of communication between the parties.