By Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s outreach to Iran’s prime authority, Supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a potential new nuclear deal is an effort to keep away from army motion, U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned on Sunday.
“We need not clear up every part militarily,” Witkoff instructed Fox Information.
“Our sign to Iran is let’s sit down and see if we will, by way of dialogue, by way of diplomacy, get to the fitting place. If we will, we’re ready to try this. And if we won’t, the choice shouldn’t be an awesome various.”
Trump mentioned earlier this month that he had despatched a letter to Khamenei, warning that “there are two methods Iran will be dealt with: militarily, otherwise you make a deal.”
Khamenei rejected the U.S. supply for talks as “a deception,” saying negotiating with the Trump administration would “tighten the knot of sanctions and improve strain on Iran.”
Nevertheless, Iran’s overseas minister, Abbas Araqchi, mentioned on Thursday that Tehran would quickly reply to each the letter’s “threats and alternatives.” He cautioned on Sunday that talks with the U.S. are unattainable until Washington adjustments its strain coverage.
Talking individually on CBS Information, the White Home’s nationwide safety advisor, Mike Waltz, mentioned the U.S. sought “full dismantlement” of Iran’s nuclear program.
“Iran has to surrender its program in a means that the whole world can see,” he mentioned.
“As President Trump has mentioned, that is coming to a head. All choices are on the desk and it’s time for Iran to stroll away fully from its need to have a nuclear weapon.”
Tehran has lengthy mentioned this system is just for peaceable functions.
U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi mentioned final month that point is operating out for a deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear program as Tehran continues to speed up its enrichment of uranium to close weapons grade.
Whereas leaving the door open for a nuclear pact with Tehran, Trump has reinstated the “most strain” marketing campaign he utilized in his first time period as president, together with efforts to drive the nation’s oil exports to zero.
The U.S. has issued 4 rounds of sanctions on Iran’s oil gross sales since Trump’s return to the White Home on January 20.
(Reporting by Phil Stewart; modifying by Ross Colvin and Paul Simao)
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