New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has said that Iran wants to reach a deal and that he will not agree to any arrangement that would allow Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon.
He stated that talks had reached a deadlock over nuclear issues and claimed that a blockade of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz had begun.
Trump also said that Iran had called earlier in the day and expressed interest in working toward a deal. He maintained that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons and warned against any country attempting to blackmail or extort the world. These remarks were made during an unscheduled press briefing at the White House on Monday, theguardian.com reported.
When asked about the movement of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the US president expressed confidence that operations would continue smoothly. He added that tanker activity was also strong in the US, noting steady flows of shipments in and out of ports.
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Meanwhile, the heads of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have warned that damage to energy infrastructure caused by the ongoing conflict could keep fuel and fertiliser prices elevated for a prolonged period.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol described disruptions to global oil supplies as the most serious energy security challenge in history. He made the remarks at the IMF headquarters in Washington, DC, after discussions with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga.
Separately, Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem called on Lebanon to withdraw from direct talks with Israel scheduled in Washington. He said in a televised address that negotiations with Israel were pointless and described them as a concession to Israel and the UK. The talks are expected to involve ambassadors from both sides as they work on a framework for future discussions.
In parallel developments, a senior military or diplomatic representative from Australia is expected to attend an upcoming summit focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting, led by France and the United Kingdom, will bring together at least 40 countries.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the summit aims to advance a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping once the conflict comes to an end.
