Iran defended its offer to restart peace talks in as few as two days after the US rejected some of its conditions. Tehran wants hostilities halted, a blockade lifted and sanctions waived before negotiations begin.
Iran called its proposal the most reasonable offer on the table on Monday. The proposal would restart peace talks in as few as two days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had described some of Iran's conditions as "outrageous and ridiculous".
However, Tehran shortened an earlier timeline. Iran cut the wait to restart talks from an earlier seven-day proposal, which calls for Washington to first meet conditions including halting hostilities, lifting a blockade and waiving sanctions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei answered Rubio at a weekly press conference. He asked whether it is unreasonable for Iran to demand that US sanctions and its naval blockade be lifted before negotiations start, and that the war end on all fronts.
Baghaei also addressed Iraq. He said US pressure on Iraq to close most of its borders with Iran should not affect bilateral ties with Baghdad, after Iraq's foreign minister said Washington was pushing for such a move.
He dismissed a US military task force aimed at restricting Iran's land trade as a diversion following President Donald Trump's Republicans' losses in midterm elections.
Source: Investing.com (Reuters)
Trading involves risk.
Risk Disclaimer
