Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Aug 3
US President Donald Trump said fresh negotiations with Iran would begin on Monday after he postponed what he described as a planned “massive” military strike against the country.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the United States had been prepared to launch a major attack but decided to delay military action following appeals from Iran and U.S. allies in the Middle East.
“We’re talking to them in the form of a negotiation. It begins tomorrow afternoon,” Trump said, without specifying where the talks would take place or who would attend.
Trump said Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar had urged him to hold off the strikes.
Iran has not officially responded to Trump’s announcement. Its semi-official Mehr news agency denied that Tehran had asked Washington to postpone military action, describing the claim as false.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by Iranian media as saying talks with Oman over the Strait of Hormuz were progressing towards completion.
Trump said the planned operation would have been the biggest attack since World War Two and could have undermined diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Oil prices fell sharply in Asian trading after Trump’s announcement. Brent crude dropped 4.5 percent to USD 83.98 a barrel, while US crude fell 4.6 percent to USD 80.74.
Iran’s acting defence minister, Majid Ibn al-Reza, said Tehran regarded military threats against the country as credible and would not remain passive.
