US President Donald Trump on Friday said he hopes Iran will agree to negotiate a peace deal over its nuclear weapons programme and that there will soon be a development regarding Tehran.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Mr Trump said “something's going to happen very soon” on the “situation” with Iran. “You'll be talking about that pretty soon, I guess, and hopefully we can have a peace deal,” he said.
In an interview aired on Friday, Mr Trump said he wants to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran and has sent leaders in Tehran a letter to see if they would be open to talks. He said he hoped the letter, sent on Wednesday, would avoid the need for any military action.
“I've written them a letter saying: 'I hope you're going to negotiate', because if we have to go in militarily, it's going to be a terrible thing for them,” he told Fox Business.
“I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something, because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon.”
Iran's leaders have said, however, that they would not be willing to resume negotiations with the US on its nuclear programme while Washington continues with its “maximum pressure” campaign.
During Mr Trump's first six weeks back in office, he has upended decades of US foreign policy as part of his “America First” approach.
He has sought rapprochement with Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, as he attempts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, while also cutting US military aid to Kyiv. He has proposed displacing two million Palestinians from Gaza and the construction of a “Riviera of the Middle East” in the coastal enclave.
In 2018, a year into his first term in the White House, Mr Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal, an internationally brokered agreement signed in 2015 that sought to limit Tehran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief.
The move undermined years of efforts by the US, China, France, Russia, the UK, Germany and the European Union, and reimposed all sanctions on Iran that had been lifted.
Mr Trump also accused his predecessor Joe Biden's administration of lifting sanctions on Iran, allowing Tehran to raise revenue from oil sales.
“[Mr Biden] took the sanctions off, they became rich under Biden,” he said on Friday. “They went from having no money, to having $300 billion all in a short period – oil builds up fast.”
Early last month, Mr Trump signed an executive order restoring the so-called maximum pressure policy against Iran, with the aim of reducing the country's oil flows by more than 90 per cent.
“We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats,” Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Foreign Minister, told AFP on the sidelines of an Organisation of Islamic Co-operation meeting in Jeddah.
“But it doesn't mean that, regarding our nuclear programme, we will not negotiate with other parties, we are talking to the three European countries.”
Mr Araghchi also warned against a US or Israeli military attack on Iran, saying it would set off a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2
(Martial 30', McTominay 90 6')
Manchester City 0
RESULTS
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
Winner: Superior, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
Winner: Tried And True, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
Winner: Roy Orbison, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.15pm
Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
Winner: Taamol, Dane O’Neill, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
8.50pm
Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
Winner: Welford, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
Winner: Lavaspin, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
Winner: Untold Secret, Xavier Ziani, Sandeep Jadhav
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
