Donald Trump mixes threats with optimism on Iran peace deal

The American push to quickly begin high-stakes talks with Iran hit a snag Friday, just days after the signing of an agreement that opens a two-month window for negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

During the unveiling of the new Air Force One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet, President Donald Trump mixed a threat toward Iran with optimism the negotiations with Tehran would succeed in the end.

"We have the greatest military anywhere in the world. And you saw that in Iran, where in one week, virtually, we knocked out their entire Navy, their entire Air Force, their anti-missile weapons, their radar," Trump said.

"It's 60 days, have to make a deal. Otherwise we we will do things that won't make them happy. But I don't think it's going to get to that. I think it is going to be very good, he said."

Iranian officials did not travel as planned to Switzerland, insisting that Israeli strikes on Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon must stop before the talks can take place, according to three regional officials and a person familiar with the matter.

The situation was fluid as Israel and Hezbollah agreed on Friday to renew their ceasefire, according to a US official and regional officials.

Trump's vice president, JD Vance, had been prepared to make an overnight flight to meet with his Iranian counterparts at a mountainside resort in the tiny Swiss village of Obbürgen and begin the technical talks.

Then the trip was called off - abruptly and for the time being.

During the event at Joint Base Andrews, Trump also pointed to the US military operation in Venezuela in January as a demonstration of American military might.

The operation ousted leader Nicolás Maduro from power, and it culminated with the US transporting Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to New York to face narco-terrorism conspiracy charges.

"We had a great victory in Venezuela, where we're now doing really well with the government," Trump said.