Despite having already taken significant military action against Iran, President Donald Trump said that if negotiations this week fail, combat could resume.
“I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with, but we're ready to go,” he said. “The military is raring to go. They are absolutely incredible.”
An April 7 ceasefire with Iran is set to expire on April 22.
Since the ceasefire began 14-days ago, the U.S. Navy began an ocean blockade in the Strait of Hormuz on April 13 to put pressure on the Iranian economy and force the regime to accept a deal to end the conflict.
U.S. negotiators are entering talks with expectations of a positive outcome, according to Trump.
“What I think is that we're going to end up with a great deal,” he said. “I think they have no choice. We’ve taken out their Navy. We've taken out their Air Force. We’ve taken out their leaders.”
The United States agreed to a suspension of strikes against Iran on the condition that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
The conflict stems from President Donald Trump pre-emptively striking Iran on Feb. 28, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli Defense Forces.
“I want to make a good deal,” Trump said. “I'm not going to be rushed. I have all the time in the world. I want to make it not a good deal. I want to make a great deal.”
Vance is accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to the Pakistan-led mediation.
"These leaders are much more rational and so it is a regime change, no matter what you want to call it, which is not something I said I was going to do, but I've done it indirectly, maybe, but I've done it," Trump said. "I think we're in a very strong negotiating position to do what other presidents should have done during a 47-year period."
When asked if he would extend the ceasefire beyond its April 22 deadline, Trump said he didn’t want to do that.
“We don't have that much time because by the time both parties get there, you know, they just got the okay to go forward, which I knew they were gonna do anyway,” he added. “I don't think they had a choice. They have to negotiate.”