U.S President, Donald Trump, seems to have dropped threats of impending war with Iran as he declared his willingness to meet the country’s leaders without precondition, a dramatic turn-around by the erratic American leader.
Barely a week after warning Iran that it would suffer untold consequences, Trump said he would meet the country’s leader, Hassan Rouhani, “any time” and without preconditions.
He made the assertion at a joint White House media briefing with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, noting that the move would be good for the two countries and for the world.
Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, however, offered his own interpretation of the offer, setting out three steps Iran must take before the talks take place. “The president wants to meet with folks to solve problems if the Iranians demonstrate a commitment to making fundamental changes in how they treat their own people, reduce their maligned behavior, can agree that it’s worthwhile to enter into a nuclear agreement that actually prevents proliferation,” Mr. Pompeo explained.
For the spokesman of the National Security Council, Garrett Marquis, President Trump would be open to dialogue to end four decades of bitter animosity between the two countries, but only if Iran fundamentally changes. “The US is prepared to take action to end sanctions, re-establish full diplomatic and commercial relations, permit Iran to have advanced technology and support the reintegration of the Iranian economy into the international economic system,” Marquis said.
But he underlined the catch – “However, this relief is only possible if there are tangible, demonstrated and sustained shifts in Iran’s policies. Until then, the sting of sanctions will only grow more painful if the regime does not change course.”
Trump’s offer comes after a provocative warning a week ago from Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, who said the US should not “play with the lion’s tail” and warned that any conflict with Iran would be the “mother of all wars.” Some observers said they had heard such warning before.
