US President Donald Trump speaks at a US Army War College event during the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday (local time). [AP]
US President Donald Trump speaks at a US Army War College event during the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday (local time). [AP]

US President Donald Trump declined to set an explicit deadline for Iran to reach an end-of-war agreement but renewed pressure on Tehran to accept American demands, in effect reaffirming his earlier warning that civilian infrastructure could be targeted if a deal is not reached.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday during a visit to Pennsylvania for a US Army War College event, Trump was asked whether he had given Iran a deadline. "I don't like giving deadlines," he said.

He then added: "They know very well. They know the situation. They better behave properly."

In a Fox News interview Wednesday, Trump had warned that if no end-of-war agreement with Iran was reached by next week, the United States could strike civilian infrastructure including power plants and bridges.

Acting on Trump's orders, US forces carried out airstrikes on military facilities near the Strait of Hormuz for a fifth consecutive day through Wednesday. That day's strikes were conducted unusually in broad daylight, ratcheting up the pressure further.

Trump's remarks Wednesday stopped short of fixing a specific negotiation deadline but amounted to a renewed warning that if Iran does not accept US conditions, strikes could expand beyond military facilities to civilian infrastructure.


sjy@heraldcorp.com