U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegese [File Photo, UPI Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump, with a potential end-of-war agreement with Iran gaining momentum, assessed the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran and resuming airstrikes as a 50-50 chance on the 23rd (local time).

In a phone call with Axios, an American online media outlet, President Trump stated, "The odds are exactly 50-50, whether we make a good deal or blow them to kingdom come," according to the outlet.

President Trump also announced that he planned to meet later that day with Special Envoy Steve Wifco, who has been responsible for negotiations with Iran, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to discuss Iran's latest response.

These three individuals participated in the first high-level face-to-face negotiations with the Iranian side in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, on April 11-12, shortly after the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran on April 7. The negotiations at that time ended without a resolution.

The 'latest response from Iran' mentioned by President Trump appears to have been received by Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, who has been mediating the end-of-war negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

General Munir visited Tehran, the capital of Iran, the previous day, holding a series of meetings with Iranian leaders including the President, Speaker of Parliament, and Foreign Minister over two days before returning home on the same day.

Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, explained that the purpose of General Munir's visit was "to exchange messages between Iran and the U.S." and stated that the two sides were narrowing their differences on the terms of ending the war.

President Trump's remarks on this day imply that he will review Iran's end-of-war proposal, brought by General Munir, during his meeting with Special Envoy Wifco, Kushner, and Vice President Vance later that day.

Axios reported, "President Trump said he would decide whether to resume airstrikes on Iran by Sunday (24th)."

President Trump said, "One of two things will happen. Either we hit them harder than ever before, or we make a good deal."

President Trump also said, "Some people want a deal much more, and others want to resume the war."

He also dismissed claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned about him making a disadvantageous deal, Axios reported.

In addition, President Trump told CBS News in a phone interview that the possibility of an agreement with Iran is "getting pretty close" and that "it's getting better as the days go by," according to the broadcast.

President Trump further stated that he believes the final agreement will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, adding, "Otherwise, I wouldn't even be having this conversation."

He also said that the agreement would "result in a satisfactory processing of Iran's highly enriched uranium," and declared, "I will only sign an agreement that gets us everything we want."

However, President Trump also threatened that if the negotiations do not reach an agreement, "No country will have been hit as hard as Iran will be hit very soon," indicating that very powerful airstrikes would be launched against Iran if negotiations fail.