HIBAPRESS – Follow-up
Iran announced on Saturday that the matter of talks is up to the United States to choose whether it will seek a negotiated settlement or return to war.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi told ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions residing in Tehran, "Iran has presented its plan to the Pakistani mediator with the aim of permanently ending the imposed war." He added: "The ball is now in the United States' court to choose the path of diplomacy or continue the approach of confrontation." Earlier on Saturday, a senior Iranian official said that Tehran's proposal, which US President Donald Trump has so far rejected, provides for opening the Strait of Hormuz to navigation and ending the US naval blockade on Iran, while postponing talks on the Iranian nuclear program to a later stage. After 4 weeks since the suspension of military operations, an agreement has not been reached to end the war, which has caused the largest disruption ever to global energy supplies. Trump said on Friday that he was "not satisfied" with the latest Iranian proposal, without elaborating on the elements he opposes. He added in statements to reporters at the White House "They are asking for things that I cannot agree to."
