US President Donald Trump told Al Jazeera that he is “not in a hurry” regarding Iran’s return to negotiations. He said he has “no timeline” for when Iran might come back to the negotiating table to end the conflict the US began several months ago.
“I have no timeline, none. I’m not in a hurry. I have no timeline at all”, Trump told Al Jazeera correspondent Tania Nouri on Wednesday when asked how much time he is giving Iran to re‑engage.
“We are winning very big,” the president added. He claimed that Iran is suffering from high inflation, a collapsing economy, and harsh repression of protesters. “I have no timeline; as long as it takes”, Trump said.
Change in rhetoric and past agreements
This Friday marks six months since the start of the US war against Iran, which began on February 28.
Trump’s current remarks differ from his earlier statements. After the war began, he repeatedly downplayed its expected length, once suggesting it would end in “four to six” weeks.
In June, the US and Iran signed a 60‑day memorandum of understanding covering issues such as transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, and the start of talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. That agreement expired at the beginning of this month.
Increased sanctions against Iran
On Monday, the US announced new sanctions targeting Iran and 60 organizations in various countries that do business with it.
American officials described the measures as an “economic D‑Day,” and the Trump administration labeled the operation “Operation Economic Outcast.”
The sanctions tightening comes amid the absence of clear deadlines for Iran’s return to negotiations, which are intended to end the war.
Source: Al Jazeera
