(CNSNews.com) – President Trump’s comment Monday that he was ready to meet with Iranian leaders came just hours after the regime’s foreign ministry rejected the idea of negotiations with the U.S., saying Washington had proven to be “untrustworthy” and dismissing reports speculating that mediation efforts may be underway.
Speaking alongside visiting Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Trump said he would meet with President Hassan Rouhani whenever the Iranians wanted to do so.
“I don’t know that they’re ready yet. They’re having a hard time right now,” he said, alluding to the protests and economic difficulties confronting Tehran. Ahead of the reimposition of U.S. sanctions, Iran’s rial has plummeted to a new low against the U.S. dollar.
Trump said he was willing to meet with “no preconditions.” He also linked any prospective meeting to the need to reach an agreement with Iran in place of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, from which he withdrew last May.
“If we could work something out that’s meaningful – not the waste of paper that the other deal was – I would certainly be willing to meet.” READ MORE
