43 million ago Iran says ‘ball is in US court’ on any possible peace deal Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that the next step in the confrontation with the United States falls to President Trump. “The ball is in the court of the United States, because our demands have been expressed very clearly and transparently, and Iran’s demands are reasonable and logical,” Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters in Tehran. Baqaei said the ongoing negotiations, which have been mediated by Qatar, Pakistan and other mediators, focused on a seven-day proposal that Iran originally presented to the U.S. side in September, which calls for the release of frozen Iranian assets, the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade and an end to fighting on all fronts, in exchange for the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations on other issues. President Trump rejected the initial proposal, but both sides have since exchanged reviews, and Trump has repeatedly said in recent weeks that he only needs to make a decision on whether to launch new attacks. on Iran, or reach an agreement to end the war. Speaking to a radio station on Sunday before a campaign rally in Iowa, Trump said he would end the war soon, “one way or another.” “Either they make a deal or we just end it,” he said, without offering further context. 4:09 AM Netanyahu reportedly pushes for new US strikes on Iran President Trump told reporters on Sunday that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday and had a “very good conversation with him.” Trump did not give details but said the two had discussed the war in Iran. According to sources cited by Axios, Netanyahu pushed for Trump to attack Iran, but the president wants to let the negotiations develop. Both the United States and Iran have entered into indirect talks through Qatari-led mediators who are pushing for a deal between both sides before the conflict escalates. Trump has repeatedly hinted that he is considering resuming attacks on Iran after the midterm elections. 4:09 AM Push for US-Iran deal overshadowed by threats to resume fighting Qatari mediators are leading indirect talks aimed at reaching a US-Iran deal, but the closed-door negotiations have been marked by exchanges of threats between the leaders of both countries. Iranian negotiators are in Qatar to discuss a proposal that could soon reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who added that the outcome depends on the responses provided by the United States. President Trump said the United States still had to “deal with” one or two more potential targets in Iran, citing a suspected nuclear complex at Pickaxe Mountain. On Sunday he reiterated the threat, saying he may have to give Tehran “the hammer” at some unspecified time. Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mokhtaba Khamenei warned on Saturday that there would be “no geographical limitations” if fighting with the United States resumes, adding that there is a “vast theater” to inflict damage. Both sides have previously acknowledged that indirect talks are taking place, but constantly exchange threats. hopes for diplomacy but preparing for ‘the worst’ The United Arab Emirates presidential adviser said Sunday that his country hopes a diplomatic breakthrough is possible in Qatar-led mediations, but is also preparing for the possibility of escalation. Speaking at a security forum in Bahrain, Anwar Gargash said Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries like the United Arab Emirates made this a “defining year” for the region. “We really don’t want to see another round of confrontation in the region,” Gargash said. audience. But he added that his country and the region are prepared for the “worst,” referring to the resumption of active hostilities. The United Arab Emirates came under constant attack by Tehran in the first weeks of the war in retaliation for US attacks on Iran, disrupting tourism and daily life, and effectively calling into question the region’s security outlook. CBS/AP 4:09 a.m. Strait of Hormuz, a British maritime security agency said, after Qatari media reported an earlier attack on a gas tanker. Britain’s shipping agency UKMTO said “the captain of a merchant ship has transmitted a distress call… indicating that another ship has been hit by an unknown projectile” in the strait. Earlier, Qatar’s state news agency said a Qatari oil tanker had been attacked with “unidentified objects” on Friday while transiting Gulf waters. None of the crew members aboard the vessel were injured and there was no environmental impact from the attack, according to the report. The attack hit a liquefied natural gas transporter, Al Mayeda, which belongs to Qatar Gas Transport Company, the Qatar News Agency said. Since the war in the Middle East began in February, Iran has been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz and throughout the Gulf in an effort to assert control over shipping. 4:09 AM Trump says war in Iran will be ended “very soon, one way or another” President Trump said he believes the United States will soon end the war with Iran, “one way or another.” The president was speaking with Right Side Broadcasting Network before a campaign rally in Iowa on Sunday. “We have had such a victory, and we will put it aside very soon, one way or another,” Trump said. “Either they come to an agreement or we just end it… The work we’ve done is amazing.” Earlier Sunday, Iran’s top diplomat said he hopes there will be “rationality” from the United States as diplomatic efforts seek to avoid a return to all-out war.
