President Donald Trump criticized Iran for claiming it is not negotiating with the United States, and reiterated that the economic blockade will remain in place until a nuclear deal is reached, according to the Times of Israel.
President Donald Trump escalated his public pressure on Iran Monday evening, accusing Tehran of falsely claiming it is not in talks with Washington and vowing to maintain the full economic blockade until a nuclear deal is reached. The statement, reported by the Times of Israel, marks a sharp shift in tone from earlier White House assertions that negotiations were ongoing despite Iranian denials.
Earlier Monday, at 00:46 Jerusalem, Trump had asserted that negotiations with Iran were active and that talks were set to resume. In a series of statements throughout the early morning, Trump claimed an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz had been reached and that a nuclear deal would follow. Iran, meanwhile, denied any direct talks, insisting on mediators. The conflicting signals have characterized the diplomatic standoff for weeks.
The economic blockade — which Trump has called a '100% blockade' on Iranian oil exports — has been a central pillar of his pressure campaign. As The Zioneer reported on June 9, Trump maintained that the blockade remains '100% in place' while predicting a pause in hostilities. The President has repeatedly threatened renewed military action if Iran does not agree to terms, including in a June 11 statement warning of bombing if no deal is reached.
It remains unclear whether any direct negotiations are currently taking place or if the diplomatic track has broken down. Tehran has continued to deny that talks are underway, while Trump's latest remarks suggest frustration with the lack of progress. No new diplomatic breakthrough was reported in Monday's remarks.
10 developments
- DevelopingTrump, angered, says Iran is 'stalling' nuclear deal, threatens immediate attack
- DevelopingTrump: US strikes on Iran will continue until I say otherwise
- StrongTrump warns Iran: 'If there is no deal, I will finish the job'
- DevelopingTrump tells NYT he will 'renew military attacks' on Iran if nuclear talks falter
Source and signal
- Open-source intake