US President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with Iran’s latest proposal for talks aimed at ending the ongoing deadlock, after Tehran—through mediation by Pakistan—submitted a fresh offer for negotiations, raising cautious hopes of a breakthrough.
Trump said Iran was seeking concessions he could not accept. “They want to make a deal, but … I’m not satisfied with it,” he told reporters as he left the White House for Florida. He added that Iran’s leadership was “very disjointed” and split into “two or three groups.”
Reiterating his stance, Trump said Iran would not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran has long demanded that the United States acknowledge its right to enrich uranium, which Tehran says it seeks only for peaceful purposes but which Western powers say is aimed at building nuclear weapons.
Asked about his options, Trump said on Friday: “Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal?”
Asked if he wanted to blast the hell out of them, Trump said: “On a human basis, I prefer not.”
The US President also praised Pakistan’s mediation efforts to end the deadlock, saying negotiations by phone were continuing.
“They’ve made strides, but I’m not sure if they ever get there,” Trump said. “They’re asking for things that I can’t agree to.”
On the other side, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran remained open to diplomacy if Washington changes what he called its “excessive approach, threatening rhetoric and provocative actions.” However, he also warned in a Telegram post that “Iran’s armed forces remained ready to defend the country against any threat.”
The conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Irantriggering major disruptions in global energy markets after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies. A ceasefire took effect on April 8, but tensions have remained high.
Global oil prices, which remain well above $100 a barrel, had surged to a four-year high at one point on Thursday amid reports that Trump was to be briefed on plans for new military strikes to compel Iran to negotiate. Prices, however, eased following news of the fresh Iranian proposal.
Meanwhile, economic and security pressures have intensified. The US Navy has been blocking Iranian oil exports, and Washington on Friday warned shippers of potential sanctions if they pay transit tolls to Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has heightened fears of a wider economic downturn.
Iran, for its part, has activated air defenses and is preparing a broad response in the event of an attack, with officials assessing the possibility of a short but intense US strike potentially followed by Israeli action.
– Ends
Tune In
Source link
[ad_3]
