US President Donald Trump announced that talks with Iran will take place on Monday, aiming to resolve the impasse over Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Trump had earlier said he had called off an imminent attack in hopes of quickly reaching a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Background
The US and Iran have been engaged in a standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program, with the US imposing sanctions and Iran responding by enriching uranium. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil exports, has been largely closed by Iran, causing energy prices to rise and stoking broader inflation.
Trump has repeatedly issued threats that he would escalate the war on Iran, only to allow more time for talks, which have so far not led to a comprehensive deal. The US president has argued that his stated goal of keeping Iran from gaining nuclear weapons justifies higher fuel costs in the near term.
International Diplomacy
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held phone calls with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir to discuss diplomatic efforts. The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported earlier that negotiations between Tehran and Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were in their final stages.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
