Iran’s top negotiator said recent talks with the US had made progress but gaps remained over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, while President Donald Trump cited ‘very good conversations’ with Tehran despite warning against ‘blackmail’ over the key shipping channel.
Neither side offered any specifics about the state of negotiations on Saturday, days before a fragile ceasefire in the US-Israeli war against Iran is set to expire.
The war, now in its eighth week, has killed thousands, spread to Israeli attacks in Lebanon and sent oil prices surging because of the de facto closure of the strait, which before the war carried one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
An Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon and nine were wounded, including one seriously injured, the Israeli military said early on Sunday.
TRUMP: ‘It’s time for the Iran killing machine to end’
Iran decided to fire bullets yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz — A Total Violation of our Ceasefire Agreement! Many of them were aimed at a French Ship, and a Freighter from the United Kingdom.
That wasn’t nice, was it? My Representatives are going to Islamabad, Pakistan — They will be there tomorrow evening, for Negotiations. Iran recently announced that they were closing the Strait, which is strange, because our BLOCKADE has already closed it.
They’re helping us without knowing, and they are the ones that lose with the closed passage, $500 Million Dollars a day! The United States loses nothing. In fact, many Ships are headed, right now, to the U.S., Texas, Louisiana, and Alaska, to load up, compliments of the IRGC, always wanting to be “the tough guy!”
We’re offering a very fair and reasonable DEAL, and I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran. NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!
They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END! President DONALD J. TRUMP
International flights to resume in Iran
US military deploys sea robots to search for mines in the Strait of Hormuz
You can get a small channel in that area surveyed in days not weeks using Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.
Iran turns two oil tankers back from the Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s president insists Tehran is not seeking war
We have not attacked any country, and in the current situation we do not intend to attack any party, and we are simply defending ourselves legitimately.
It should not be suggested that Iran is seeking war. On the contrary, we are peace-loving and what we are doing is legitimate self-defence. Just as every human being reacts to aggression, a nation also defends itself against attack.
UN secretary general condemns attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
Iran arrests dozens for spying for US and Israel
Iran rules out handing over its enriched uranium to the US
I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States. This is non-starter and I can assure you that while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters.
We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position.
PETER HITCHENS: How ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’ could lead us down a VERY dangerous path
Iranian president says Trump has no authority to deprive Iran of its nuclear rights
Trump says Iran cannot make use of its nuclear rights but doesn’t say for what crime. Who is he to deprive a nation of its rights?
Pakistan ramps up security ahead of potential second round of talks
Traffic at a standstill in the Strait of Hormuz



