U.S. will talk to Iran with "no preconditions" if Iran behaves like "normal nation"
- 5 years ago
Tension between the U.S. and Iran has increased sharply in the past month, after Iran decided to partially abandon the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program.
But the U.S. is telling Iran that talks are always on the table.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, tell us more about what U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had to say on Sunday.
Well Mark, Pompeo said the U.S. is prepared to talk to Iran with 'no preconditions' about its nuclear program if the country behaves like "a normal nation".
This softened stance comes after Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Iran may be willing to hold talks if Washington showed it respect.
But Pompeo also said the U.S. will continue its effort to "fundamentally reverse the malign activity of Iran."
"The real challenge is inside of Iran today. They are not caused by our economic sanctions, they are caused by 40 years of the Islamic regime not taking care of its people, instead using their resources that destroy real lives, to use resources to underwrite Hezbollah, using resources to fight in Syria where 6 million human beings, 6 million people have been displaced because of Iranian activity in support of the Assad regime there."
Trump has proposed talks "without preconditions" since July 2018, before the U.S. had imposed sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors that crushed Iran's economy.
But Rouhani dismissed the offer as "word-play" on Sunday saying it was up to the U.S. to return to the negotiating table and resume compliance with the 2015 deal.
On Saturday, the U.S. military had a B-52 bomber and an aircraft carrier simulate strike operations.
The military hardware was dispatched to the Middle East in May citing "credible threats" from Iran to which the U.S. did not offer evidence.
But the U.S. is telling Iran that talks are always on the table.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, tell us more about what U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had to say on Sunday.
Well Mark, Pompeo said the U.S. is prepared to talk to Iran with 'no preconditions' about its nuclear program if the country behaves like "a normal nation".
This softened stance comes after Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that Iran may be willing to hold talks if Washington showed it respect.
But Pompeo also said the U.S. will continue its effort to "fundamentally reverse the malign activity of Iran."
"The real challenge is inside of Iran today. They are not caused by our economic sanctions, they are caused by 40 years of the Islamic regime not taking care of its people, instead using their resources that destroy real lives, to use resources to underwrite Hezbollah, using resources to fight in Syria where 6 million human beings, 6 million people have been displaced because of Iranian activity in support of the Assad regime there."
Trump has proposed talks "without preconditions" since July 2018, before the U.S. had imposed sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors that crushed Iran's economy.
But Rouhani dismissed the offer as "word-play" on Sunday saying it was up to the U.S. to return to the negotiating table and resume compliance with the 2015 deal.
On Saturday, the U.S. military had a B-52 bomber and an aircraft carrier simulate strike operations.
The military hardware was dispatched to the Middle East in May citing "credible threats" from Iran to which the U.S. did not offer evidence.