Trump Moves to Resume Diplomatic Talks with Iran Amid Escalating Crisis
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that representatives of President Donald Trump attempted to reopen nuclear diplomacy with Iran during a meeting on the sidelines of a UN conference on Tuesday. The initiative comes as Iran’s Houthi allies advance on a second front following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Rubio noted that Qatar mediated the extensive session with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The primary focus of the talks was persuading Iran to halt its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.
“If there is an opportunity to exchange views and messages, we will do so,” Mr. Rubio told reporters at a New York hotel. While describing the discussions as “positive” and “significant,” he cautioned, “I do not want to mischaracterize this as a major breakthrough or a grand success.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Trump threatened to destroy Iran if no agreement was reached to end the war. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday that Tehran’s conditions for resuming diplomatic talks include lifting the US naval blockade, unfreezing Iranian assets, and ending all hostilities or military attacks on the battlefield. These demands were included in the 14-point peace agreement signed between the US and Iran last June.
Meanwhile, Houthi forces have taken control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical international shipping corridor. Controlling most of Yemen, the group has withstood a 2015 Saudi-led military coalition offensive and US bombing runs last year. Regional US officials fear Iran could leverage the Houthis to further restrict maritime traffic, worsening global economic volatility. Crude oil prices have already spiked as a result of the US-Israel conflict, raising global consumer dissatisfaction.
Asked whether Mr. Trump might seek assistance from Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his state visit to Washington this week, Rubio said the President would address “all relevant global issues.”
At the UN on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged continued resistance against Washington while reiterating openness to negotiations. “Mr. Trump and those who seek to intimidate us must understand that while we will not submit to force or coercion, we remain ready for dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiations,” Mr. Pezeshkian said.
