Anadolu |
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said Washington was ready to negotiate with Iran with “no pre-conditions”.
Pompeo, who is currently in Switzerland for official talks, was speaking at a joint news conference with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis.
U.S. prepared to engage with Iran without pre-conditions: Pompeo https://t.co/OHjSph58gz
— Reuters Iran (@ReutersIran) June 2, 2019
He called on Tehran to spend its resources to meet the basic needs of the Iranians, saying Iran’s activities in Syria have led to displacement of some 6 million people across war-weary Syria.
Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians. The World is watching this butchery. What is the purpose, what will it get you? STOP!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019
He went on to say that the political and economic pressure on Iran would continue.
On May 29, President Hassan Rouhani said: “The door of negotiations is not closed provided the U.S. lifts the sanctions and fulfills its commitments.”
Tensions between Tehran and the Washington have mounted steadily since 2017 when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from a landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of nations (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).
Read more: The US withdraws from Iran deal: aftermaths
Since then, the Trump administration has also re-imposed sanctions on Iran’s banking and energy sectors, while Iran has threatened to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz to U.S. oil shipments.
Anadolu with additional input by GVS news desk