In a Fox News interview on Sunday afternoon, President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric toward Iran while negotiations were underway in Switzerland between his envoy and Iranian officials. He said the talks were not a deal with the Iranian regime, but only an extension of the ceasefire, and warned that Tehran had a limited window to comply.
Trump said he was in control of the situation, declaring, “I hold the cards.” He added that if Iran failed to fulfill its commitments at the negotiating table, “I have a 60-day option, and then I’ll do what I want.”
He also warned against any Iranian move to close the Strait of Hormuz, saying, “We may have to take over the Strait of Hormuz. We are the guardian angel of the Middle East.” Trump said he had spoken with senior Iranian figures and told them, “If you close the strait, you will not have a country to come back to,” adding that they would not even be able to return to “your damn country.”
Responding to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s statement that Iran would not give up its right to enrich uranium, Trump said, “He should keep his mouth shut, he should straighten himself out, or we will take over the rest of the country.”
