The renewed indirect negotiations, held in Oman, unfold against rising military deployments in West Asia, with both governments signalling openness to dialogue while publicly hardening their negotiating positions.
US President Donald Trump (Photo:IANS)
US President Donald Trump on Friday said the United States has sent “a very big carrier group to Iran” as tensions with Tehran continue, even as Iran signalled that indirect talks could move forward if Washington avoids “excessive demands”.
Speaking in Washington during a press interaction and later at Fort Bragg, Trump criticised decades of negotiations with Iran and said he intended to get the issue “settled for once and for all”, while Iranian leaders, in separate remarks reported by international media, underlined that their missile programme remains non-negotiable.
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The remarks come at a time of renewed indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington, with the first round held in Oman on February 6, even as the US increases its military presence in the region and both sides publicly harden their positions.
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Addressing reporters, Trump said Iran had prolonged discussions for decades without resolution.
“For 47 years, they’ve been talking and talking and talking. In the meantime, we’ve lost a lot of lives while they talk. Let’s see what happens. In the meantime, tremendous power has arrived and additional power, as you know, and other carriers are going out shortly. So we’ll see it out. Get it settled for once and for all, and that’ll be good,” he said.
He added that a major naval deployment was already underway.
“We have a situation right now where we have sent a very big carrier group to Iran. I would love to see if we could make a deal. They’ve been difficult to make a deal with. I thought we would have had a deal last time. They wish they did and that’s what we did, Midnight Hammer,” he said.
Trump also reiterated his broader foreign policy claims, stating, “We are also bringing peace all over the world. I ended eight wars in just 10 months. We have a couple more to go, but one in particular, Russia-Ukraine. It’s a mess. It’s a horrible thing. I think we’ll get there. It takes two to tango. You have to remember that and we have to get there.”
In Tehran, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei indicated that negotiations could move forward if they are based on practical considerations and mutual respect.
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Defence Council, said in an interview with Qatar’s Al Jazeera, published Friday, that talks between Tehran and Washington could advance and safeguard mutual interests if they are grounded in realism and avoid excessive demands. His remarks were reported by Xinhua, cited by IANS.
Shamkhani was commenting on renewed indirect nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, the first round of which was held in Oman on February 6.
He said refraining from actions that could undermine stability and security in West Asia would be a rational course for all parties, adding that diplomatic efforts in the region are aimed at de-escalation and strengthening political solutions.
However, he made clear that Iran’s missile programme is among the country’s red lines and not open to negotiation. He further warned that Iran would give a “strong, decisive and appropriate” response to any potential adventurism.
Shamkhani also asserted that Israel cannot attack Iran without US support, and said Iran’s military readiness is high.
Earlier this week, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would “not yield to excessive demands” on its nuclear programme after talks with the United States resumed. He added that Tehran was prepared for “any verification” of its nuclear programme, while maintaining it is not pursuing an atomic weapon.
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