Iranupdated 23m ago3 min read
Archive photo · 6 October 2017Trump Says Renewed Strikes on Iran ‘Highly Unlikely’ If Talks Progress
5 West Asian4 Western Mainstream3 Asian4 Other source typesPhoto: Shealah Craighead / White House, Public domain · Cropped for layout
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Trump says renewed strikes on Iran are highly unlikely if talks progress. Decision depends on whether a very strong agreement is signed.
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16 outlets in this story. Read their headlines below.
Trump links strikes to talks
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that renewed military strikes on Iran were "highly unlikely" as long as negotiations made progress, while he did not rule out further military actions.
Trump told CNN in a phone interview that the decision depended on whether Iran would "sign a very strong agreement," and he said "Most likely it will not be necessary."
Trump also claimed the United States had identified potential infrastructure targets in Iran, including power plants and bridges, and he said it could destroy 38 bridges in an hour.
The reporting described Washington and Tehran as remaining at a stalemate with little significant progress in diplomatic efforts, more than eight months after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
The same reporting placed Trump’s comments alongside continued incidents in and near the Strait of Hormuz, including explosions heard near Qeshm Island and Iranian state television saying officials had not confirmed reports of missile strikes on Iranian territory.
Rubio says talks unproductive
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that negotiations with Iran had made little progress and that Washington was not close to reaching a diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran.
Rubio told reporters ahead of his departure for France to attend a meeting of G7 foreign ministers, "I have no progress to report," and he said the talks were "not particularly productive" because Iranian demands were "unacceptable".
Rubio also said Washington would act if American forces or shipping in the region came under threat, adding, "If there is a clear and immediate threat to shipping or to our forces in the region, we have the right to defend ourselves."
The reporting also said Iran’s state television, cited by Reuters, had not confirmed reports of missile strikes on Iranian territory, while Iranian authorities said two vessels had struck mines and a third had caught fire.
The same set of reports described the United States as strengthening efforts to restrict Iran’s access to military supplies, including the formation of Task Force Iron Gate with about 20 military and civilian personnel.
Hormuz incidents and next signals
Iran and the United States both reported shipping being hit in or near the Strait of Hormuz, with explosions heard in several areas on Sunday evening including Qeshm Island. Iranian authorities said two vessels had struck mines and a third had caught fire, while the reporting also said the United States continued to take action against vessels in and around the strait. The U.S. military said on Saturday evening that its air force had fired at the stern of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, disabling it as it tried to get through the blockade.
Qatar denied reports that the United States and Iran had failed to reach a deal, and the Qatari prime minister affirmed that both sides were continuing to work toward an agreement. The reporting also said an Iraqi delegation visited Tehran and held talks with Iranian officials, conveying a message from the United States during an eight-hour mission, while the report did not identify the delegation members or the Iranian officials they met.