Iran Unveils New Weapon: Where Are Tensions with US Headed?

Описание: Articles: https://www.i24news.tv/en
Live: https://video.i24news.tv/page/live?cl...
Replay: https://video.i24news.tv/page/5a97b81...

Facebook:   / i24newsen  
Twitter:   / i24news_en  
Instagram:   / i24news  

#i24NEWS #NewsDesk #Iran

NEWS DESK | Pompeo claimed that the U.S. sanctions are weakening Iran, all the while Iran is unveiling its new precision-guided missiles. What are Iran's goals? Our Owen Alterman analyzes.

Story:

President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Iran favors talks with the US if it lifts sanctions against the Islamic republic, despite his top diplomat turning down a meeting with US President Donald Trump.

Rouhani said that "peace with Iran is the mother of all peace" and "war with Iran is the mother of all wars" as he defended a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran favors talks and negotiations and, if the US really wants to talk, before anything else it should lift all sanctions," Rouhani said in remarks aired live on state television.

Rouhani, speaking at the foreign ministry after meeting with his top diplomat foreign affairs minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, said Iran was ready for talks regardless of whether or not the US was party to a landmark nuclear deal.

"Whether they want to come into the JCPOA or not, it's up to them," said Rouhani, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

"All sanctions should be lifted so that there will be no criminals facing us," he said, accusing the US of committing acts of "economic terrorism" for blocking imports of food and medicine.

"So if it wants talks, it must prepare the path for it. The path to it is to repent. There is no other way," the Iranian president said, stressing that the Americans should be ready to negotiate fairly.

Zarif on Monday confirmed reports that he had turned down an offer from a US senator to meet Trump at the White House last month despite a threat of being hit with sanctions within two weeks.

"I was told in New York I would be sanctioned in two week unless I accepted that offer, which fortunately I did not," he said.

Tensions between Iran and the US have been rising since Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal in May 2018 and began imposing sanctions on it as part of a campaign of "maximum pressure".

Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday that his country would take “a third step” to reduce its compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement.