Iranian foreign minister heads to Russia, Trump says ‘call us’ to negotiate

(Reuters)

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD, April 27 – U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran could telephone if it wants to negotiate an end to ​their two-month war, as Tehran’s foreign minister landed in Russia on Monday to seek support from President Vladimir Putin.

Hopes of reviving peace efforts receded on ‌Saturday when Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi shuttled to and from mediators Pakistan and Oman on Sunday before flying to Russia, with the two sides still seemingly far apart on issues including Iran’s nuclear ambitions and access through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Oil prices rose and U.S. stock futures wobbled lower in early Asia trade on Monday after ​U.S.-Iran peace talks stalled over the weekend, leaving Gulf shipping blocked.

“If they want to talk, they can come to us, or they can call us. You know, ​there is a telephone. We have nice, secure lines,” Trump told “The Sunday Briefing” on Fox News.

“They know what has to be in the ⁠agreement. It’s very simple: They cannot have a nuclear weapon; otherwise, there’s no reason to meet,” Trump said.

Iran has long demanded Washington acknowledge its right to enrich uranium, which ​Tehran says it only seeks for peaceful purposes, but which Western powers say is aimed at building nuclear weapons.

Advertisement · Scroll to continue

Although a ceasefire has paused full‑scale fighting in the conflict, which began with ​U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, no agreement has been reached on terms to end a war that has killed thousands, driven up oil prices, fuelled inflation and darkened the outlook for global growth.