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Iran: Lack of Trust Impeding US Talks 05/18 06:13
Iran 's foreign minister said a lack of trust is the biggest obstacle in
negotiations to end the war with the U.S., saying Friday that Tehran would be
open to diplomatic help, particularly from China, to help ease tensions.
NEW DELHI (AP) -- Iran 's foreign minister said a lack of trust is the
biggest obstacle in negotiations to end the war with the U.S., saying Friday
that Tehran would be open to diplomatic help, particularly from China, to help
ease tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contradictory messages have
"made us reluctant about the real intentions of Americans."
"We are in doubt about their seriousness," he told reporters in New Delhi,
adding that negotiations would move forward if Washington was ready for a "fair
and balanced deal."
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week dismissed Iran's latest formal
proposal as "garbage." While Iran was said to include some nuclear concessions,
Trump has said he wants to remove highly enriched uranium from the country and
prevent it from developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is
for peaceful purposes.
In separate negotiations in Washington between Israel and Lebanon, both
sides agreed Friday to extend their ceasefire until early June, U.S. officials
said.
With talks between Iran and the U.S. at a standstill during the shaky
ceasefire, tensions remain high and threaten to tip the Middle East back into
open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict.
Iran still has a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway where a
fifth of the world's oil passed through before the war, and America is
blockading Iranian ports.
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who finished talks on Friday, agreed
the strait needs to be reopened.
China could play a diplomatic role, Iran says
Araghchi said Friday that Iran would welcome diplomatic support from other
countries, particularly from China, citing Beijing's previous role in
facilitating the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Beijing has shown little public interest in U.S. requests to get more
involved, even though Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity that Xi had in their
conversations offered to help.
Pakistan said Thursday it was continuing diplomatic efforts to help ease
regional tensions. But it declined to disclose details of the discussions or
say whether the U.S. had formally responded.
"The clock on diplomacy has not stopped. The peace process is working,"
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told reporters in
Islamabad.
Iran says uranium is a sticking point
Trump has demanded a major rollback of Iran's nuclear activities while Iran
says it has a right to enrich uranium.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who launched the war with Trump
on Feb. 28, also wants Iran's highly enriched uranium removed from the country.
Iran's foreign minister said Friday that the issue of its enriched uranium
stockpile is one of the most difficult subjects in negotiations with the U.S.
Russia has previously offered to take the stockpile if Iran is willing to
give it up. Araghchi said Russia's proposal was not currently under active
discussion, but could be revisited.
"When we come to that stage, obviously we will have more consultations with
Russia and see if the Russian offer can help or not," he said.
Israel and Lebanon extend ceasefire as strikes continue
Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend the expiring Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire
for another 45 days to allow for negotiations on a broader peace agreement, the
U.S. State Department said.
After two days of meetings, the department said it would reconvene the two
sides for discussions on June 2 and 3, while a military track -- between the
Israeli and Lebanese armies -- by the Pentagon will begin on May 29. Hezbollah
opposes Lebanon's direct negotiations with Israel and has not been part of the
talks.
Israel's ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter said the talks were frank and
constructive. "There will be ups and downs, but the potential for success is
great," he said in a social media post. "What will be paramount throughout
negotiations is the security of our citizens and our soldiers."
The ongoing ceasefire hasn't stopped Israel and Hezbollah from trading
strikes.
The Israeli military said Friday it hit Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon
after reporting hostile aircraft alerts and launches from across the border.
Lebanon's health ministry said three paramedics were killed in a strike near
the city of Harouf. Other strikes around the coastal city of Tyre wounded
nearly 40 people, destroyed a health center and damaged the neighboring Hiram
Hospital, wounding six medical workers, the ministry said.
Chinese-owned ship taken into Iranian waters
A Chinese-owned ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized this
week and taken toward Iranian waters.
Chinese private security company Sinoguards said it had "been informed
through relevant channels" that the vessel Hui Chuan, which it was operating as
an offshore work platform, was taken into Iranian waters for documentation and
compliance inspection by the authorities.
The company's emailed statement said there was no indication of any injuries
on the ship and that it was cooperating.
Honduras, where the ship was flagged, said the ship had 17 crew including
people from Nepal, Myanmar, Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
The seizure happened as a senior Iranian official reiterated his country's
claim of control over the Strait of Hormuz and another said it had a right to
seize oil tankers connected to the U.S.
The U.S. seized vessels in the Gulf of Oman last month and on Friday the
foreign minister of Pakistan said it had secured the return of 11 Pakistani
nationals and 20 Iranian citizens who were aboard those vessels. "All
individuals are in good health and high spirits," said the foreign minister,
Ishaq Dar, said.
UAE speeds up construction of oil pipeline
The United Arab Emirates is speeding up the completion of a new pipeline
that will allow the Gulf federation to export more oil without routing it
through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu
Dhabi, directed state oil company ADNOC to accelerate work on the pipeline, the
Abu Dhabi Media Office said Friday.
The oil company already runs a pipeline designed to carry 1.5 million
barrels a day from its oil fields to the port of Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman.
The new pipeline, expected to double the company's export capacity through
that port, will become operational next year, the media office said.
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