Trump threatens to destroy what’s left in Iran New York Times: Talks now at a standstill, Tehran reviewing specific proposals

President of the United Statestrump On the 5th he threatened to “destroy”iran “The remaining parts,” it said, adding that a decision on whether to upgrade the U.S.-Chinaisrael War against Iran. Five officials familiar with the matter told The New York Times that Iran is reviewing a series of proposals put forward by mediators, indicating that stalled diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war could be headed for a breakthrough.

Investigative news website Drop Site News reported that Trump told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House that the United States would now decide whether to take further action to make sure “this kind of thing never happens again.” He said, “If possible, I would not like to destroy what is left of the country, but perhaps I will have to do so. You will know soon.”

“If we have to deal with Iran, we are fully prepared to take action,” Trump said.

Asked about Iranian negotiators reviewing a new proposal sent through Qatar to curb its nuclear program, Trump said: “It doesn’t matter what they’re looking at. They will not have nuclear weapons.” He said Iran “will not do anything without our approval.”

The New York Times reported that Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to inquiries. Five officials familiar with the matter, including one US official and two Iranian officials, said Iran is willing to re-engage in nuclear talks after weeks of refusing to make concessions, indicating that recent mediation efforts led by Qatar have achieved some results. Officials described the conditions Iran was reviewing as “concrete proposals” but did not elaborate.

Officials said Qatar has been mediating intensively over the past week, participating in two rounds of talks in Tehran, hosting a third round in Doha and most recently holding talks with Iranian officials in Armenia. US Vice President Vance sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, chairman of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in October, proposing direct peace talks. He is now also a key supporter of Qatar-led diplomatic mediation. He appeared to be trying to distance himself from Trump by blaming the war for the Republican Party’s electoral defeat in this cycle.

The New York Times reported that the United States and Iran have become more tough in their rhetoric in recent weeks, prompting Qatari mediators to try to broker a deal at the last minute. Rezaei indicated in a televised speech on October 31 that Iran would not enter nuclear talks if the United States did not accept Iran’s demands.

Iran demands the freeing of frozen assets, the lifting of oil sanctions, and the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. However, two Iranian officials and one US official said Rezaei has shown a more open attitude toward discussing nuclear issues in private. He has been involved in Qatar-mediated talks with other senior Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Araqchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Qalibaf.

Trump’s attitude has been wavering, sometimes threatening to start a full-scale war and sometimes expressing his willingness to give diplomacy a chance. Two officials said that as of the morning of the 5th, the United States and Iran were still reviewing the latest proposals put forward by mediators to bridge remaining differences.