ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — US President Donald Trump expressed on Thursday that Iran is performing "very poorly" and he is open to negotiations, while Iranian media outlets have taken his stance to be weakening.
"I understand they want to talk and if they want to talk that's fine," Trump said on Thursday in northern France alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
"We'll talk but the one thing that they can't have is they can't have nuclear weapons," he added.
The precondition of talks with an Iran incapable of obtaining nuclear weapons has been a stumbling block, as the Islamic Republic claims they do not possess nuclear weapons or the desire to develop them. However, they’ve said they could take steps over the past month which would allow the enriching of weapons-grade uranium.
Trump claimed that Iran is not as active destabilizing the Middle East because of the impact of a year of sanctions.
"They're not doing that anymore. They're doing very poorly as a nation. They're failing as a nation," said Trump.
Trump directly referred to the US sanctions crippling the Iranian economy in the past year.
"I don't want them to fail as a nation. We can turn that around very quickly but the sanctions have been extraordinary," he said.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Trump meeting with French President Macron was because Paris and Washington share "common goals for Iran" and new talks must begin with Iran for Europe to re-engage with Tehran.
Tasnim news, which is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed a US source said Trump is looking to reduce tension with Iran "that [Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] and his advisors" got him into.
"I understand they want to talk and if they want to talk that's fine," Trump said on Thursday in northern France alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
"We'll talk but the one thing that they can't have is they can't have nuclear weapons," he added.
The precondition of talks with an Iran incapable of obtaining nuclear weapons has been a stumbling block, as the Islamic Republic claims they do not possess nuclear weapons or the desire to develop them. However, they’ve said they could take steps over the past month which would allow the enriching of weapons-grade uranium.
Trump claimed that Iran is not as active destabilizing the Middle East because of the impact of a year of sanctions.
"They're not doing that anymore. They're doing very poorly as a nation. They're failing as a nation," said Trump.
Trump directly referred to the US sanctions crippling the Iranian economy in the past year.
"I don't want them to fail as a nation. We can turn that around very quickly but the sanctions have been extraordinary," he said.
Iranian officials did not immediately respond Trump's latest comments; however, the press in Tehran was quick to portray them as a softened stance by the White House.
Iran's semi-official ILNA ran the headline on Thursday: "Threats of Iranian President [Hassan Rouhani] Working," "Trump Retreat," and "US Desires to Negotiate More So [Now]."
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported Trump meeting with French President Macron was because Paris and Washington share "common goals for Iran" and new talks must begin with Iran for Europe to re-engage with Tehran.
Tasnim news, which is close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed a US source said Trump is looking to reduce tension with Iran "that [Secretary of State Mike Pompeo] and his advisors" got him into.
The Iranian foreign ministry later responded on Friday, claiming European countries haven't held up their end of the deal.
The European sides despite their political statements and speeches have been unable to deliver on their commitments under the JCPOA, Iran FM spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement, according to Tasnim News.
When the US withdrew illegally, they were unable to deliver on their commitments and haven't been able to provide a framework that will benefit Iran, claimed Mousavi in the outlet close to the IRGC.
He asserted that such statements are not helpful and they create an environment devoid of trust.
Macron said during their press conference that in order for Trump to accomplish his goals for Iran, talks are needed.
Macron said Paris and Washington have the same objectives for Iran: contain Iran's regional interference, promote regional peace, prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and reduce its ballistic missile activities.
"I think the words pronounced from President Trump today are very important," said Macron. "We need to open a new negotiation."
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is planning to travel to Iran next week, as the US ally that also has close relations with Tehran could play a mediating role.
“We believe it is extremely important that, at the leadership level, we call on Iran as a major regional power to ease tension, to adhere to the nuclear agreement and to play a constructive role for the region’s stability,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press briefing on Thursday.
The European sides despite their political statements and speeches have been unable to deliver on their commitments under the JCPOA, Iran FM spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a statement, according to Tasnim News.
When the US withdrew illegally, they were unable to deliver on their commitments and haven't been able to provide a framework that will benefit Iran, claimed Mousavi in the outlet close to the IRGC.
He asserted that such statements are not helpful and they create an environment devoid of trust.
Trump, who was in France for the 75th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings on Thursday, held a meeting with Macron.
Macron said during their press conference that in order for Trump to accomplish his goals for Iran, talks are needed.
Macron said Paris and Washington have the same objectives for Iran: contain Iran's regional interference, promote regional peace, prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and reduce its ballistic missile activities.
"I think the words pronounced from President Trump today are very important," said Macron. "We need to open a new negotiation."
Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is planning to travel to Iran next week, as the US ally that also has close relations with Tehran could play a mediating role.
“We believe it is extremely important that, at the leadership level, we call on Iran as a major regional power to ease tension, to adhere to the nuclear agreement and to play a constructive role for the region’s stability,” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press briefing on Thursday.
Update: 2 p.m., June 7
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