In an interview with Axios Sunday, President Donald Trump said that the U.S. and Iran were locked “in deep negotiations” but added that time was running out for the authoritarian regime as his Tuesday deadline looms.

“There is a good chance, but if they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there,” Trump said.

Behind the scenes, mediators expressed more caution about the state of play. Amid ongoing negotiations, they expressed doubt that a deal will be reached but are racing to secure even a partial deal before time runs out, hoping to delay Trump’s ultimatum.

The stakes are high for Iran, as Trump threatened to blow up critical civilian infrastructure, which Iran — hypocritically — says could constitute war crimes and, also hypocritically, added that it would retaliate with strikes on crucial civilian infrastructure across the Middle East, including Gulf countries and Israel.

Meanwhile, Trump downplayed concerns about civilian harm, saying that “they are living in fear. They are afraid we are gonna leave in the middle of the war, but we are not going to leave.” He also said that Iranians who oppose the regime would welcome such strikes if it means weakening the regime, implying that they would be willing to sacrifice their own welfare for the greater good.

Until Trump’s most recent — and escalatory — announcement that Iran had better “Open the F***kin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell,” negotiations to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz had been ongoing for the 10 days prior without progress.

Trump said that Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner are engaged in intense negotiations with the Iranians.

“The negotiations are going well, but you never get to the finish line with the Iranians,” Trump said, adding that the two sides appeared to be making progress before talks broke down.

“But then they said they will meet us in five days. So I said, ‘Why five days?'” he explained. “I felt they were not being serious. So I attacked the bridge,” Trump said, referring to Wednesday’s strike on a key bridge connecting Tehran with northern Iran.

While diplomats are feverishly working to deescalate the situation, there have been no breakthroughs as time marches relentlessly toward Trump’s Tuesday deadline.