Trump sticks to Iran strike plan, White House sets deadline

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is "sticking to" plans for a potential military strike on Iran if negotiations fail to make progress by a self-imposed deadline, with the White House warning Tehran has only hours left to respond.

Fox News anchor Bret Baier, citing a direct conversation with Trump, said on Tuesday that the President made clear that "8 p.m. (Eastern Time) is happening", adding that if talks do not yield results, "there is going to be an attack like they have not seen".

Earlier, White House Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told IANS: "The Iranian regime has until 8 p.m. Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States. Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do."

The twin signals from Trump and the White House underscore a sharp escalation in the ongoing crisis centred on the Strait of Hormuz.

Baier said the US President indicated that while a breakthrough in negotiations could alter the course, "at this hour he is sticking to it."