"Without preconditions": Trump ready to meet with Iranian leaders

In his escalating dispute with Tehran, US President Donald Trump is ready to meet his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rohani. "I would certainly meet with Iran if they wanted to meet," Trump said in Washington after a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. He added: "at any time" and "without preconditions".

However, he did not know whether the Iranian leadership was ready for a meeting at the moment. If a meaningful nuclear agreement could be reached with Iran, that would be "good for them, good for us, good for the world." The previous agreement, from which the exited, on the other hand, had been "a waste of paper". Tehran is now threatening sanctions for the financial and energy sectors as a result of the US exit. These measures had been suspended under the agreement. A first part of the sanctions is scheduled to become effective on 6th August, another in November.

The nuclear agreement reached in 2015 is intended to prevent Iran from building atomic bombs. In return for economic easing and more investment by foreign companies, Tehran had agreed to abandon its nuclear program and submit to controls. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly certified to the country that they comply with the requirements.

"Never again threaten the US"

The US president reaffirmed Monday that the "brutal regime in Iran" should never have nuclear weapons. In it he agrees with Conte. At the same time Trump referred to the successful after his words, he had in June with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to denuclearize his country. "I believe in meetings," he said. Such a meeting would not take place either from a position of strength or one of weakness. The meeting with Kim had also been preceded by Trump's threats.

Only a week ago, Trump had warned the Iranian president to "never again threaten the US", otherwise this would have the hardest consequences. His threat via Twitter was completely capped by the US president to give her special emphasis.

Trump was referring to statements by Rohani, who had warned the US president against playing a fire in view of economic sanctions. In addition, Rohani threatened to shut down the oil export routes on the Persian Gulf, which could block all exports from the region.

To Iranian President Rouhani: NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN OR YOU WANT SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE. WE ARE NO LONGER A COUNTRY THAT WANTS TO STAND FOR YOUR DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!

Trump resigned from international nuclear dealings with Iran in May despite global criticism aimed at preventing Tehran from gaining US nuclear capabilities. At the same time, the US president imposed new financial and trade sanctions that threaten to hit European companies.

Backgrounds on the current situation in Iran read here.