INTERNATIONAL DESK — Mohsen Rezaei said Iran distrusts Washington. Iran's top security official Mohsen Rezaei said there were currently no negotiations taking place between Tehran and Washington.
Iran has insisted the US must meet seven conditions set out in a June interim agreement before the Strait of Hormuz can reopen and negotiations resume. Rezaei said Iran had asked the US for a "clear and explicit" response to its conditions, but had yet to receive one, adding that Washington could respond in the future. After meeting with mediator Qatar on Monday, US President Donald Trump played down the likelihood of major warfare restarting soon but remained unwilling to accept the existing Iranian truce plan.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that he told G7 allies that the US economic sanctions and naval blockade were working so well that President Donald Trump did not need to conduct major combat operations in Iran. Speaking to reporters in Paris after two days of meetings with G7 allies, Rubio repeatedly pushed back on the assertion that not returning to military action would amount to a stalemate or status quo.