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US President Donald Trump said he was “still not satisfied” with the terms of the deal negotiated with Iran.
He said Tehran was “very intent” on reaching an agreement to end the conflict, but added that “so far they have not got there”, reiterating Washington’s willingness to resume attacks if one is not reached.
His remarks came after Iranian state television reported that they were details of a draft deal, which included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and withdrawing US forces from the region.
The White House branded the text a “complete invention”.
Both sides signaled that progress had been made towards a deal late last week, suggesting an announcement was close.
However, Tehran soon warned that the deal was “not imminent”, while Trump said he had instructed his negotiators “not to rush” to conclude it.
Speaking to reporters at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the US president said: “They just want to make a deal – I don’t think they have a choice.
He added: “They are negotiating on the fumes.”
Trump also said: “Iran is very determined, they really want to make a deal.
“So far they haven’t gotten there and we’re not satisfied with it. But now we will be, we’ll either be like this or we’ll just have to finish the job.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “some progress and some interest” in the negotiations, adding: “We’ll see in the next few hours and days whether progress can be made.”
While both Trump and Rubio continued to express optimism that the talks were progressing well, neither provided details on what specific disagreements continued between the two sides.
Trump did not directly address the purported draft agreement reported by Iranian media on Wednesday, which included a statement that the United States would lift a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
He further said that in exchange, Iran would restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, with the management and routing of ships to be handled by Iran and Oman.
The report does not mention Iran giving up its nuclear ambitions or handing over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
BBC News has not seen the alleged painting.
Asked whether he would accept such terms, Trump told reporters that “no one” will exercise control over the Strait of Hormuz and that it will be opened “immediately.”
The president also denied reports that he was considering easing American sanctions on Tehran, or was willing to allow Russia and China to remove highly enriched uranium from Iran – both of which would likely draw political criticism in the United States.
–Iran claims control of Strait of Hormuz–
The United States and Israel launched wide-ranging attacks on Iran on February 28, sparking conflict across the Middle East.
Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel, which sent global oil prices soaring.
A ceasefire was agreed on April 8 and has been widely respected by both sides, but talks to resolve the conflict had stalled in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, the United States had launched what it called “self-defense attacks” against southern Iran – which Tehran denounced as a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreed in early April.
The United States launched strikes on Monday against Iranian missile sites and vessels that it said were attempting to plant mines.
The attacks were carried out in self-defense and designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
Tehran denounced them as a “serious violation” of the ceasefire.
BBC
