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No preconditions for meeting with Iran, we’ll meet if they want to: Trump

On Monday, US President Donald Trump, during a news conference with Italy’s premier said that he would “certainly meet” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and without preconditions, if the Iranian leader was willing.

Trump said he would meet with the Iranians “anytime they want to”. “I’ll meet with anybody. There’s nothing wrong with meeting,” he said.

“I believe in meeting,” he said, including the the benefits of “speaking to other people, especially when you’re talking about potentials of war and death and famine and lots of other things”. When he was inquired about whether any preconditions for the meetings would be set, he said, “No preconditions, no. If they want to meet, I’ll meet anytime they want, anytime they want,” he said.

“Good for the country, good for them, good for us and good for the world. No preconditions. If they want to meet, I’ll meet,” Trump said.

Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State told CNBC  he was onboard with the president’s invitation, but he appeared to add several qualifications. “If the Iranians demonstrate a commitment to make fundamental changes in how they treat their own people, reduce their malign behavior, can agree that it’s worthwhile to enter in a nuclear agreement that actually prevents proliferation, then the president said he’s prepared to sit down and have a conversation with him,” he said.

Earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned the U.S President Donald Trump against the pursuit of hostile politics toward the islamic regime, saying, “America should know … war with Iran is the mother of all wars.” He, however, did not rule out peace in the ongoing sanction war headed by the U.S, reported the state news agency IRNA.

While addressing a gathering consisted of Iranian diplomats, he said, “Mr Trump, don’t play with the lion’s tail, this would only lead to regret.”

“America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars,” Rouhani said.

“You are not in a position to incite the Iranian nation against Iran’s security and interests,” he added, referring to the rival’s efforts to destabilize the regime’s government. U.S officials cognizant of the matter told Reuters that ‘the Trump administration has launched an offensive of speeches and online communications meant to foment unrest and help pressure Iran to end its nuclear programme and its support of militant groups’.

In reply, U.S President Donald Trump slammed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s speech on Sunday by saying to ‘never ever threaten’ the country again.

“Never, ever threaten the united states again or you will suffer consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before,” he said on Twitter in a direct message to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

“We are no longer a country that will stand for your demented words of violence & death. Be cautious!” Trump said, writing the entire message in capital letters.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had later retorted back with his own tweet, beginning as, “COLOR US UNIMPRESSED.”

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