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ConflictTrump: Agreed to more Iran talks, but ceasefire is over
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US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he has agreed to further negotiations with Iran, but reiterated that the ceasefire between the two countries is over. The announcement comes amid renewed hostilities, with both sides exchanging strikes for a second consecutive day, threatening a return to full-scale regional war. Iranian media reported that a Qatari mediation delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday, following Doha's condemnation of an alleged Iranian attack on one of its LNG tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran denies. The US and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in Switzerland over three weeks ago aimed at turning a months-long ceasefire into durable peace, but diplomatic progress has stalled. Egypt's Foreign Minister called for a return to the negotiating table during a call with his Qatari counterpart.
Source report
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had agreed to further negotiations with Iran, even as he repeated his assertion that the ceasefire between the decades-old foes was over.
While there have been no direct talks between Iran and the United States since last month, Iranian media reported that a delegation from mediator Qatar was in Tehran on Friday after the warring sides exchanged strikes again this week.
Background
It is just over three weeks since Washington and Tehran signed an agreement aimed at turning a months-long ceasefire into a durable peace. However, the trading of fire for a second day in a row on Thursday threatened a return to full-scale regional war.
Trump's Statement
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday.
Earlier this week, at a NATO summit, Trump also declared the ceasefire over, but said of Tehran: “It’s just a waste of time dealing with them.” He also called Iranian officials “scum” and “sick people”.
Diplomatic Efforts
US and Iranian delegations have held one round of direct talks subsequent to signing their memorandum of understanding in Switzerland, as well as indirect negotiations in Qatar. However, there has been no sign of diplomatic progress since.
Despite Iran saying it had launched attacks on US assets in Qatar, and the Gulf state accusing Tehran of attacking one of its tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Doha appeared on Friday to back continued diplomacy.
Qatar's Mediation Role
Iran’s Tasnim agency reported that the Qatari delegation was in Tehran to “try to reinforce Qatar’s role as a mediator following events on Tuesday”, when Doha condemned Tehran for what it called an “unacceptable assault” on one of its LNG tankers. Iran denied the accusation.
In a call with his Qatari counterpart on Friday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for a “return to the negotiating table”.
Source
EuractivWestern
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