Washington, United States – Web Desk: U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran remains in place, but Washington will continue applying economic pressure and maintaining a blockade against Tehran, signaling no immediate easing of tensions in the Middle East.
Speaking to journalists in Maryland on April 13, 2026, Trump claimed Iran is currently facing severe economic challenges and would struggle to sell its oil in global markets due to ongoing U.S. restrictions. He reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
Trump also asserted that recent U.S. actions had significantly weakened Iran’s military and naval capabilities, although he did not provide specific details to support the claim.
According to the U.S. president, Washington and Tehran held approximately 21 hours of negotiations. However, he emphasized that he was indifferent to whether Iran chooses to return to the negotiating table, underscoring a hardline stance in U.S. foreign policy.
In a separate development, Trump criticized Pope Leo in a lengthy statement on his social media platform, Truth Social. Responding to the Pope’s anti-war remarks, Trump said he was “not a big fan,” describing the religious leader as weak and ineffective on foreign policy and crime-related issues.
Analysts expect Trump’s remarks on both Iran and the Pope to draw reactions from international leaders and global institutions, amid heightened geopolitical tensions and ongoing debate over U.S. strategy in the region.
