Mr Dermot Nesbitt, a junior minister in the First Minister's office, said yesterday that suspension of the Assembly and Executive would "not be terminal".
He was speaking during a briefing visit to Washington before any announcement on suspension but said: "I am assuming there will be suspension today - it has to be done today or else there will be resignation."
Mr Nesbitt said "suspension is not collapse. Everything goes on hold. But we do want to see full implementation of the Belfast Agreement."
Asked if decommissioning can happen now, Mr Nesbitt said: "That is a question for the republican movement to ask itself - is it really for peace?"
There could not be normal government as long as there was a threat from IRA arms. "We just need that commitment and delivery from the one element that has not delivered."
He said he wished for government to continue with Sinn Fein. He wanted government in Northern Ireland to be "as inclusive as it possibly can . . . I don't want to exclude Sinn Fein. I want to include Sinn Fein."