On July 6, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that if a final agreement is not reached through diplomacy, the United States is prepared to completely destroy the country's infrastructure "within a small part of an afternoon."
Speaking to reporters during an event at the White House, Trump said: "Either way, we're going to win. Either we reach a deal, or we finish the job, okay? And finishing the job would not be difficult."
He added: "I'd rather reach a deal because I don't want 91 million people to suffer. We can destroy their bridges within an hour. We can shut down their energy supply network."
The U.S. president elaborated further, saying: "We can take out their electricity and their power-generation facilities. And I think, within a small part of an afternoon, every one of their power plants would be gone. And they know it."
Following negotiations after the ceasefire, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 15, extending the ceasefire for 60 days while the two sides negotiate over Iran's nuclear program.
After the memorandum was signed, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz resumed, and the United States lifted its naval blockade of Iran.
Trump also reiterated that he had not sought regime change in Iran during or after the 40-day war, although he said such a change had ultimately taken place.
Speaking as funeral ceremonies were being held for the late former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Trump said: "I was not looking for regime change in Iran, although regime change has happened."
He added: "The first government is gone, the second government is gone. The third government is more reasonable. We'll see."
