00:01Good afternoon, everybody. How are you? Good to see you. We have a packed house and I have two very
00:06special guests with me today.
00:10Extending the Iran ceasefire in Carolina.
00:12Yes, so I saw some reporting again bad reporting this morning that we had formally requested an extension of the
00:18ceasefire.
00:19That is not true at this moment. We've remained very much engaged in these negotiations in these talks.
00:25You heard from the Vice President directly and the President this week that these conversations are productive and ongoing.
00:31And that's where we are right now. I've also seen some reporting about the potentiality for in-person discussions.
00:37Again, those discussions are being had, but nothing is official until you hear it from us here at the White
00:42House.
00:42But we feel good about the prospects of a deal. The President mentioned that in his interview yesterday.
00:47And it's obviously in the best interest of Iran to meet the President's demands.
00:52I think he's made his red lines in these negotiations very clear to the other side.
00:56And so we are continuing to see how these conversations go.
01:00Would those talks be in Islamabad? Or where would they be in the next round?
01:04They would very likely be in the same place as they were last time, yes.
01:07With the same, I would just want to make one point that's important to the President.
01:12The Pakistanis have been incredible mediators throughout this process.
01:16And we really appreciate their friendship and their efforts to bring this deal to a close.
01:20So they are the only mediator in this negotiation.
01:23While there have been many countries around the world who want to offer their help,
01:27the President feels it's important to continue to streamline this communication through the Pakistanis.
01:32And so that's what continues to take place.
01:34Will.
01:35On Iran, is there a timeline for how long this blockade is going to remain in place in the strength
01:41of armies by the United States that President Trump has voiced to you or that you've heard among officials?
01:46Sure.
01:48I will never set timelines on behalf of the President of the United States.
01:51But with respect to the blockade, as you know, it has been fully implemented.
01:55And it's being enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports.
02:01I want to make that point clear. I've seen some misreporting on that as well.
02:04This includes all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
02:09And our U.S. forces in the region are supporting the freedom of navigation for vessels that are transiting the
02:14strait to and from non-Iranian ports.
02:17So I know some in the press were confused about that.
02:20We are supporting the freedom of navigation.
02:21Just not with respect to any tanker or vessel that would benefit the economy of Iran as these negotiations continue.
02:30Thank you very much, everyone. Have a great day.
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