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Leaders from more than 60 countries have been invited to serve on the Peace Council. PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON:
President Donald Trump predicted on Friday that Iran would seek to negotiate a deal rather than face American military action, despite Tehran warning that its arsenal of missiles would never be up for discussion.
“I can say this, they do want to make a deal,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. Asked if he had given Iran a deadline to enter talks on its nuclear and missile programmes, Trump said “yeah, I have”, but refused to say what it was.
“We have a large armada, flotilla, call it whatever you want, heading toward Iran right now,” Trump said, referring to a US naval carrier group in waters off Iran. “Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we do make a deal, that’s good. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll see what happens.”
Trump cited what he said was Iran’s decision to halt the executions of protesters as evidence to show Tehran was ready to negotiate.
Nevertheless, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that his country’s missile and defence capabilities would “never” be on the negotiating table. He said Tehran was “ready to begin negotiations if they take place on an equal footing.
