Trump rejects ceasefire extension, warns “I expect to be bombing”

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

President Donald Trump has ruled out extending the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran beyond its looming deadline, signalling a potential return to military confrontation if ongoing negotiations fail.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box on Tuesday, Trump said he had little interest in prolonging the truce, stressing the urgency of reaching a deal.

“I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” he said, suggesting both sides were already under pressure to finalise negotiations.

The ceasefire, which is set to expire on Wednesday evening, has provided a brief pause in hostilities, allowing both Washington and Tehran to regroup amid heightened tensions. Trump noted that both sides had used the period to “restock,” underscoring the fragile nature of the truce.

He warned that failure to secure an agreement could result in renewed military action, stating that he expects bombing operations to resume if talks collapse.

“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” the president said, adding that the U.S. military was prepared for action.

Trump also defended earlier threats to target Iranian infrastructure, including bridges and power facilities, arguing that such strikes would weaken Iran’s military capabilities by disrupting logistics and weapons movement.

While maintaining a hardline stance, the U.S. president said Iran had strong incentives to reach a deal, describing its citizens as “incredible” but criticising the country’s leadership as “tough” and hostile.

“If they make a deal, they can make themselves into a strong nation again,” he said.

The remarks come as senior U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, prepare to travel to Pakistan for another round of high-level negotiations aimed at extending the ceasefire and de-escalating the conflict.

Trump also criticised Iran’s handling of domestic protests, alleging that thousands of unarmed demonstrators had been killed, further complicating diplomatic relations.

The ceasefire deadline has intensified global attention, with markets and governments closely watching the outcome of the talks.

With only hours left before the deadline, the prospect of either a diplomatic breakthrough or renewed hostilities now hangs in the balance.