Trump Briefing on Iran War: Deadline set for Tehran to make a deal is final, says POTUS

US President Donald Trump said at a White House briefing on Monday that his deadline for Iran stands unchanged until 8 pm Eastern Time (ET) the next day. The briefing, which began at 1 pm ET (10:30 pm in India, came at a time when Trump has appeared to have extended by one day an already extended deadline he gave to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face consequences. This follows a 10-day pause in planned US strikes against Iranian power infrastructure is nearing its end. The deadline -- originally set at 8 pm ET on April 6 -- now appears to be extended by one day until 8 pm ET on April 7, according to a post by the US president.

Trump has been pushing for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz -- a crucial maritime region that normally enables the passage of 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas supplies -- by Iran, threatening to increase eslacations against the Middle Eastern country. The West Asia war -- which began with US-Israel strikes killing Iran's supreme leader on February 28 -- is now in its sixth week.

Here are key takeaways from President Trump's April 6 address:

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• This is one of the better Easters in many ways (militarily)
• We are here to celebrate the success of one of the most complex rescue missions ever attempted by the military (referring to the US military's successful search and rescue mission for an F15 incident on Iranian soil)
• We were helped by a lot of great people
• This is a historic rescue
• Deadline set for Iran to make a deal is final
• Dealdine is unlikely to be extended
• US forces to unleash broad attacks on Iranian infrastructure if Tuesday night deadline is not met
• Deadline for Iran to make a ​deal is final and unlikely to be extended
• Iran's peace proposal significant but ‌not good enough

• It's a significant step, but not good enough
• Nobody has the equipment that we have
• Nobody has the machinery that we have
• Thousands of people were looking for the pilot
• Our generals are amazing
• I listened to the whole thing; it was pretty amazing
• You don't come out of these situations the way we did
• God was watching us
• We were lucky we got both of them back (F15 pilots)
• Iran is not going to get nuclear weapons; I won't let that happen
• These are sick people (Iranians)
• We cannot let them have nuclear weapons
• They asked for an extension of seven days
• I gave them 10 days, and then made it 11 days (one day's extension)
• They are negotiating, I think, in good faith
• After that, they are going to have no bridges, no power plant... (It'll be) stone ages
• I am very disappointed in NATO
• They said it loud and clear in the beginning (refusing to help)

• They (NATO) said they will wait
• I said 'I don't need help after we win'
• We (already) won militarily (vs Iran)

God is good: Trump

• God is good (asked if God is with USA)
• God doesn't like what's happening
• Every power plant in Iran will be out of business (once the deadline expires), burning, exploding and never to be used again
• We don't want it to happen
• Do we want to destroy their infrastructure? No
• NATO is a paper tiger
• (Vladimir) is not afraid of NATO
• Putin is afraid of us
• We want Greenland

Earlier, Trump posted wrote on social media: "We have rescued the seriously wounded, and really brave, F-15 Crew Member/Officer, from deep inside the mountains of Iran. The Iranian Military was looking hard, in big numbers, and getting close. He is a highly respected Colonel. This type of raid is seldom attempted because of the danger to 'man and equipment'. It just doesn’t happen!"

"The second raid came after the first one, where we rescued the pilot in broad daylight, also unusual, spending seven hours over Iran. An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all! I will be having a News Conference, with the Military, at the Oval Office, on Monday, at 1:00 P.M. God Bless our great MILITARY WARRIORS! President DONALD J. TRUMP," wrote the US president.

Wall Street Update | Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite hold on to intraday gains during POTUS address

US equity benchmarks finished near their intraday highs after Trump's address. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) closed 165.2 points, or 0.4 per cent, higher at 46,669.9 while the S&P 500 gained 29.1 points, or 0.4 per cent, to settle at 6,611.8.

The technology stocks-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 117.2 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 21,996.3 for the day.

EDITOR'S TAKE | What's in it for Dalal Street?

Zee Business Managing Editor Anil Singhvi said that nothing changes after Trump's address.

"Uncertainty remains just like before... It's the same old story. Confusion persists, just like Trump prefers... Nothing changes for Dalal Street as such. It's the same set of factors... the same crude oil levels. There is no clarity about further escalations or ceasefire at the end of the deadline," said the market guru.

"Much ado about nothing," remarked Singhvi.